travel
TRA-vuhl
Travel (verb) means to go from one place to another, often over a distance. Example: “Many commuters travel to the city centre by tram every weekday morning.”
verb
1
To go from one place to another, often over a distance.
"Many commuters travel to the city centre by tram every weekday morning."
"They plan to travel across Europe this summer."
"Sound travels faster through water than through air."
noun
1
The act of going from place to place; a journey.
"Air travel was disrupted for hours when thick fog covered the whole region."
"She writes about food and travel for a small online magazine."
"Travel between the two cities takes about three hours by train."
How to use travel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGoing from one place to another, whether for a trip or in the sense of something moving or spreading.
Common mistake
"Travel" is usually uncountable as a noun for the general activity ("travel is broadening"), while "a trip" or "a journey" describes one specific instance.
Common pairings
air travel
travel abroad
business travel
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Word forms
- Plural
- travels
- Third person singular
- travels
- Past tense
- traveled, travelled
- Archaic forms
- travellest, travelest, travelledst, traveledst, travelleth, traveleth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Many commuters _____ to the city centre by tram every weekday morning.
Etymology
From Middle English travailen, "to labour, journey" — the same root as "travail," reflecting how arduous travel once was.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for travel
See all rhymes for travel →Frequently asked questions
What does “travel” mean?
The word “travel” means to go from one place to another, often over a distance. In plain terms, going from one place to another, whether for a trip or in the sense of something moving or spreading.
How do you pronounce “travel”?
“Travel” is pronounced TRA-vuhl (/ˈtɹævəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “travel” in a sentence?
Here is “travel” used in a sentence: “They plan to travel across Europe this summer.”
What is another word for “travel”?
Words with a similar meaning to “travel” include fare, journey, reyse, activity, traffic along a route and through a given point.
What part of speech is “travel”?
Depending on how it is used, “travel” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “travel” come from?
The word “travel” comes from Middle English. From Middle English travailen, "to labour, journey" — the same root as "travail," reflecting how arduous travel once was.
Is “travel” a common word?
“Travel” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “travel” have?
“Travel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to go from one place to another, often over a distance.
What is the difference between travel and journey?
Travel is usually the act or activity of going from place to place, often used generally — 'I love to travel.' A journey is one particular trip from start to finish, with a beginning and an end. So you travel as a broad activity, but you take a journey when you mean a single specific trip.
What is the difference between travelling and commuting?
Commuting is a specific type of travel: the regular journey between home and work or school, usually daily. Travel is the wider term, covering any movement from one place to another, including holidays, business trips, and exploring new countries. All commuting is travel, but most travel is not commuting.
What are the different types of travel?
Travel takes many forms depending on purpose and distance. Common types include leisure or holiday travel, business travel, and daily commuting. It can also be grouped by mode — air, rail, road, or sea travel — or by scope, from local trips to international and long-haul journeys across the world.
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