Cruise — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈkrüz/

Meaning & Definition of Cruise

Cruise (verb)

  1. to sail about touching at a series of ports
  2. to move or proceed speedily, smoothly, or effortlessly
  3. to travel without destination or purpose

Cruise (noun)

  1. an act or an instance of cruising; especially, a tour by ship

Cruise (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a journey over water in a vessel

    "took a luxury cruise for their first wedding anniversary"

    similar: crossing, passage, sail, voyage

Cruise (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to move about from place to place aimlessly

    "the girls happily cruised around the mall for hours"

    similar: bat, drift, float, gad (about), gallivant, kick around, knock (about), maunder, meander, mooch, ramble, range, roam, rove, traipse, wander
    related: amble, saunter, stroll, dawdle, mope, hobo, tramp, vagabond, mill (about or around), straggle, stray

  2. to move or proceed smoothly and readily

    "she's been cruising through her daily physical therapy with remarkable ease"

    similar: bowl, breeze, brush, coast, drift, flow, glide, roll, sail, skim, slide, slip, stream, sweep, whisk
    related: fly, race, rush, speed
    opposite: flounder, struggle
    near: limp, lumber, plod, stumble, trudge, shamble, shuffle, stamp, stomp, stump, tramp, labor, toil

  3. to travel on water in a vessel

    "cruised to the Bahamas in their yacht"

    similar: boat, ferry, navigate, sail, ship (out), voyage, make sail, take ship
    related: canoe, kayak, yacht, coast

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cruise

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cruise:

crossing, passage, sail, voyage, bat, drift, float, gad (about), gallivant, kick around, knock (about), maunder, meander, mooch, ramble, range, roam, rove, traipse, wander, bowl, breeze, brush, coast, flow, glide, roll, skim, slide, slip, stream, sweep, whisk, boat, ferry, navigate, ship (out), make sail, take ship

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cruise

Words with the opposite meaning of Cruise:

flounder, struggle

Related Words for Cruise

amble, saunter, stroll, dawdle, mope, hobo, tramp, vagabond, mill (about or around), straggle, stray, fly, race, rush, speed, canoe, kayak, yacht

Near Antonyms of Cruise

limp, lumber, plod, stumble, trudge, shamble, shuffle, stamp, stomp, stump, tramp, labor, toil

Word Forms of Cruise

Inflections: cruised, cruising

Origin & Etymology of Cruise

Dutch kruisen to make a cross, cruise, from Middle Dutch crucen, from crūce cross, from Latin cruc-, crux

First known use: 1651i

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cruise

Words & Phrases Containing Cruise

cruise control, cruise missile, cruise ship, adaptive cruise control, booze cruise, radar cruise control

Frequently Asked Questions about Cruise

What does "Cruise" mean?

"Cruise" means to sail about touching at a series of ports. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to sail about touching at a series of ports. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cruise"?

Other words for "Cruise" include crossing, passage, sail, voyage, bat, drift, float and gad (about). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cruise" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cruise"?

There are 57 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cruise". Common alternatives include crossing, passage, sail, voyage, bat, drift, float, gad (about), gallivant and kick around.

What is the opposite of "Cruise"?

Antonyms of "Cruise" include flounder and struggle. Near antonyms include limp, lumber, plod and stumble.

How do you use "Cruise" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cruise" in a sentence: "took a luxury cruise for their first wedding anniversary"; "the girls happily cruised around the mall for hours"; "she's been cruising through her daily physical therapy with remarkable ease".

Is "Cruise" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cruise" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Cruise" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Cruise" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Cruise"?

"Cruise" is pronounced /ˈkrüz/.