cruise

1.nounA2

Definition

a trip on a ship, taken for enjoyment and relaxation, with planned stops at different coastal towns, islands, or cities so passengers can explore each place

Example

The Zhang family booked a seven-day cruise around the Greek islands.

cruise + around + place name

My grandmother saved for years to afford a cruise through the Norwegian fjords.

Common collocations

take a cruise
go on a cruise
cruise ship
cruise line
luxury cruise
Caribbean cruise
Mediterranean cruise

Synonyms

voyage
more formal; can be for any long journey by sea or even in space, not necessarily for pleasure
sail
often refers to a shorter trip on a sailing boat; less luxurious than a cruise
trip
general word for any journey; does not imply a ship or multiple stops

Grammar Patterns

cruise + around/through + place

take a cruise

go on a cruise

Usage Note

Commonly used with go on (go on a cruise) or take (take a cruise). The ship is called a cruise ship or cruise liner, and the destination ports are called ports of call.

Common Mistakes

We went to a cruise last summer.

We went on a cruise last summer.

use 'on a cruise', not 'to a cruise'.

The boat cruise was very fast.

The cruise was relaxing with stops at several islands.

a cruise is about enjoyment and visiting places, not speed.

1.verbintransitiveA2

Definition

to travel on a boat or ship as a way of relaxing and seeing different places, usually stopping at several ports along the way

Example

Every winter, Ramón and his wife cruise around the Caribbean on a small yacht.

cruise around + region — destination pattern

The ship will cruise past glaciers and remote fishing villages on its way to Alaska.

Common collocations

cruise around
cruise through
go cruising
cruise the Caribbean
cruise the coastline

Synonyms

sail
more general; can mean simply moving by wind power, not necessarily for pleasure
voyage
formal; suggests a long, often adventurous journey, not necessarily a planned holiday cruise

Grammar Patterns

cruise + around/through/across + place

go cruising

Usage Note

Often used with go + -ing form (go cruising) to describe the activity in general. The verb focuses on the relaxed, pleasure-focused nature of the journey, not just moving from point A to point B.

Common Mistakes

We cruised to work yesterday.

We cruised around the bay on Sunday.

this sense always involves a boat or ship for enjoyment, not a daily commute.

2.verbintransitiveB1

Definition

to move at a steady, moderate pace that feels comfortable over long distances and does not burn too much fuel — used especially of cars, trucks, and aircraft

Example

The delivery truck cruised along the highway at exactly ninety kilometres per hour.

cruise along + road + at + speed

Samir turned on the cruise control and let the car cruise across the desert road.

Common collocations

cruise at
cruise along
cruise control
cruising speed
cruising altitude
cruise down the highway

Synonyms

glide
suggests even smoother, quieter movement, often without an engine
coast
means moving without using power (e.g. rolling downhill); cruise implies the engine is running steadily

Antonyms

race
implies fast, urgent speed with high fuel use
sputter
suggests irregular, struggling movement — the opposite of smooth cruising

Grammar Patterns

cruise + at + speed

cruise + along/on/down + road/highway

Usage Note

Commonly appears with cruise control, a car feature that keeps the vehicle at a fixed speed. For aircraft, the cruising altitude is the height at which the plane flies most efficiently after take-off. This sense is neutral and positive — the vehicle is operating smoothly, not urgently.

Common Mistakes

The car cruised quickly at 150 km/h.

The car cruised steadily at 100 km/h on the motorway.

cruise implies a moderate, not extreme, speed.

I cruised to the shop around the corner.

I cruised along the coastal highway for two hours.

cruise suggests sustained, not very short, travel.

3.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1

Definition

to drive or walk slowly through an area while hoping to find a particular person, a place to stop, or an opportunity; to patrol an area in a searching way

Example

A police car cruised slowly through the housing estate, watching for anything unusual.

intransitive: cruise + through + area

Gabriel cruised past the café twice, hoping to spot Manuela among the outdoor tables.

Common collocations

cruise around
cruise through
cruise the streets
cruise for
cruise past

Synonyms

patrol
more formal and systematic; often suggests a duty or official role
rove
suggests wandering without a clear goal; cruise implies a more purposeful search
scan
used for visual searching; cruise involves physical movement

Grammar Patterns

cruise + around/through + area

cruise + place + for + target

Usage Note

Can be used transitively (cruise the streets) or intransitively (cruise around the block). The searching is implied but not always stated explicitly. When the target is a parking spot or a fare, the tone is neutral; when looking for a person, it can suggest either purposefulness or aimlessness.

Common Mistakes

She cruised the book for interesting chapters.

She cruised the library aisles looking for a good book.

this sense applies to physical movement through a space, not browsing a text.

4.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

to move forward smoothly and effortlessly, as if carried by a natural force, without needing to hurry or struggle

Example

The eagle cruised on the warm air currents high above the valley.

subject = bird, natural effortless movement

Mira cruised effortlessly through the crowded market, weaving between the stalls.

Common collocations

cruise through
cruise across
cruise past
cruise effortlessly
cruise smoothly

Synonyms

glide
almost identical in meaning; glide can describe quieter or more silent movement
sail
can describe smooth movement of any object through air or water; slightly more formal
drift
suggests movement without control or direction; cruise implies confident, purposeful motion

Antonyms

struggle
the opposite of smooth, easy movement
stumble
suggests awkward, broken movement on foot

Grammar Patterns

cruise + through + medium/space

cruise + past/across + object

Usage Note

Describes graceful, unforced movement through any medium — air, water, or a crowd. The connotation is always positive and elegant. Distinguish from sense 2 (steady vehicle speed) where the emphasis is on fuel efficiency and control, not grace.

Common Mistakes

He cruised nervously through the corridor.

He cruised confidently through the reception area.

cruising implies ease and confidence, not anxiety.

The boat cruised through rough, stormy waters.

The sailboat cruised across the calm, blue lake.

this sense works best with smooth conditions.

5.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

to get through a stage, task, or competition so easily that you seem to be moving forward with no effort at all, as if everything is naturally going your way

Example

The top seed cruised through the opening round without losing a single game.

cruise through + competition round

Once the main project is done, we can cruise through the final week.

Common collocations

cruise through
cruise to victory
cruise past
cruise to the top

Synonyms

breeze through
slightly more informal; implies the task was very easy
sail through
very similar to cruise through; sail is slightly more common in British English
romp
British informal; suggests a playful, easy win, especially in sports

Antonyms

struggle through
implies difficulty and effort, the opposite of cruising
flounder
suggests confusion and difficulty, especially in a task

Grammar Patterns

cruise + through + task/test/stage

cruise + to + victory/win

Usage Note

Frequently followed by through (an exam, a round, a project) or to (a win, a title, the top). This sense is figurative and always carries a positive, almost admiring tone — the person makes success look easy.

Common Mistakes

I cruised the exam after studying all night.

I cruised through the exam because I was well prepared.

cruise through is the standard pattern; transitive use without through sounds unnatural in this sense.

6.verbtransitive / intransitiveC1

Definition

to visit bars, clubs, parks, or other public places with the aim of finding someone willing to have casual sex, often without a prior arrangement

Example

Late at night, some people cruise certain bars and clubs looking for casual encounters.

transitive: cruise + place

The council installed brighter lights to stop drivers cruising the area for sex workers.

Common collocations

cruise for
cruise the bars
go cruising
cruising area
cruising ground

Synonyms

pick up
broader meaning; can apply to any setting where someone approaches another person for a date or sex
hook up
very informal; implies finding a casual sexual partner, often via apps or at parties

Grammar Patterns

cruise + place + for + partner

go cruising

Usage Note

This sense is informal and can be offensive in some contexts. It is most commonly associated with gay male cruising culture but is not exclusive to it. The term is generally considered impolite in formal conversation. In modern usage, dating apps have largely replaced physical cruising in public spaces.

Common Mistakes

Using this sense in formal or professional writing without clear contextual need.

Reserve this sense for discussions of sociology, urban culture, or LGBTQ+ history where the specific meaning is required.

Word family

cruiser
nounB1
cruising
adjectiveB1
cruise ship
nounA2
cruise control
nounB1
cruiserweight
nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe a journey, but they differ in setting and purpose. A cruise is a planned holiday on a large ship that stops at multiple ports for sightseeing and relaxation — it is the most specific of the four. A voyage is more formal and often suggests a long, challenging journey by sea (or even in space), with less emphasis on luxury or planned entertainment. A sail usually means a shorter outing on a sailing boat, often with the wind as the main power source; it is less about organised stops and more about the experience of sailing itself. A trip is the most general word, covering any short journey for any purpose — business, leisure, or errands. A crossing specifically refers to travelling from one side of a body of water to the other, like a ferry crossing or a transatlantic crossing. For example: 'The family went on a Caribbean cruise for their summer holiday' but 'The explorers set out on a dangerous voyage to Antarctica'; 'We took a short sail around the bay' but 'The ferry crossing to the island took just two hours.'

voyage ↗sail ↗trip ↗crossing ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

cruise control
cruising speed
cruising altitude
cruise ship
cruise liner

Prepositions

Etymology

DutchEnglish

The word cruise comes from the Dutch word kruisen, meaning 'to cross' or 'to sail to and fro'. It originally referred to a ship moving back and forth across a stretch of water, especially in a military context (a 'cruiser' was a fast warship). By the early 1800s, the word had shifted toward pleasure travel, and by the mid-1900s, the modern idea of a holiday cruise on a large passenger ship was fully established. The figurative senses — driving at a steady speed, moving effortlessly, or doing something easily — all developed in the 20th century from the core idea of smooth, unhurried forward motion.

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cruise

cruise — noun

1. a trip on a ship, taken for enjoyment and relaxation, with planned stops at diff

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

cruise — verb

1. to travel on a boat or ship as a way of relaxing and seeing different places, us

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to move at a steady, moderate pace that feels comfortable over long distances an

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to drive or walk slowly through an area while hoping to find a particular person

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

4. to move forward smoothly and effortlessly, as if carried by a natural force, wit

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

5. to get through a stage, task, or competition so easily that you seem to be movin

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

6. to visit bars, clubs, parks, or other public places with the aim of finding some

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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