voyage

voyage — noun

1. a long trip from one place to a distant one, made by sea, air, or through space

1.nounB1
Definition

a long trip from one place to a distant one, made by sea, air, or through space

Example

The ship began its voyage from Liverpool to New York on a cold morning.

voyage from [A] to [B]

Megan dreamed of taking a voyage across the Pacific Ocean to visit Japan.

take a voyage

Common collocations
  • maiden voyage
  • first voyage
  • long voyage
  • sea voyage
  • space voyage
  • voyage across
  • voyage to
  • voyage from
  • voyage around the world
Synonyms
  • journey

    more general; can be any distance by any mode of transport

  • crossing

    specifically refers to moving across a body of water, often shorter than a voyage

  • cruise

    a voyage taken for pleasure, often with stops at multiple ports

Grammar Patterns

voyage + from + [place]

voyage + to + [place]

voyage + across + [body of water]

Usage Note

Unlike 'trip' or 'journey', 'voyage' strongly suggests crossing a large body of water or travelling through space. It is rarely used for short-distance or land-only travel.

Common Mistakes

I made a voyage to the supermarket.
I made a trip to the supermarket.
'Voyage' is only for long, distant travel, usually by sea or in space.

2. the time spent travelling by sea from one port to another, including everything

2.nounB2
Definition

the time spent travelling by sea from one port to another, including everything that happens on the way

Example

The voyage from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro usually takes about three weeks by sea.

specific sea route

During the voyage, the passengers enjoyed live music and swimming in the ship pool.

during the voyage

Common collocations
  • smooth voyage
  • rough voyage
  • outward voyage
  • return voyage
  • during the voyage
  • on the voyage
  • thirty-day voyage
  • long voyage
Synonyms
  • passage

    formal term focusing on the act of crossing by sea

  • crossing

    more neutral; often used for shorter water journeys like ferry crossings

Grammar Patterns

during the voyage

on the voyage

voyage of + [duration]

Usage Note

This sense emphasises the duration and events of the journey by water, not just the destination. Common with adjectives like 'smooth', 'rough', 'outward', and 'return'.

Common Mistakes

The voyage went well.
The voyage was smooth.
'Voyage' in this sense pairs with adjectives describing the experience at sea, not with 'go' as an action verb.

voyage — verb

Word family

  • voyager
    nounC1
  • voyaging
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These five words all describe moving from one place to another, but they differ in distance, purpose, and mode of travel. 'Journey' is the most neutral — any distance, any transport, from a ten-minute bus ride to a month-long expedition. 'Trip' is usually shorter, with a clear purpose and a return in mind, like a 'business trip' or a 'day trip'. 'Voyage' is reserved for long-distance travel by sea or through space, carrying a sense of adventure or historical grandeur. 'Cruise' is a voyage taken for pleasure on a ship, with planned stops and onboard entertainment — it emphasises enjoyment over the journey itself. 'Crossing' focuses on the act of getting from one side of a body of water to the other, such as a 'ferry crossing' or 'Atlantic crossing'. For example: 'Our train journey took five hours.' 'We booked a Caribbean cruise for our holiday.' 'The Mayflower's voyage across the Atlantic lasted 66 days.'

journey ↗trip ↗voyage ↗cruise ↗crossing ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • maiden voyage
  • first voyage
  • return voyage
  • outward voyage
  • smooth voyage
  • rough voyage
  • voyage of discovery
  • voyage around the world

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'voyage' entered English in the 1200s from Old French 'voiage', meaning a journey or travel. The French word came from Latin 'viaticum', which originally meant 'money for a journey' or 'travelling provisions'. 'Viaticum' itself came from 'via', the Latin word for 'road' or 'way'. So at its root, a voyage is simply a journey on the road — though today it calls to mind the sea or outer space rather than a Roman road.