commuter
Americannoun
-
commuters
plural
adjective
-
of or for commuting; serving commuters.
a commuter railroad.
-
of or relating to a flight, plane, or airline that carries passengers over relatively short distances and usually serves small communities.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of commuter
Explanation
A commuter is someone who has a lengthy trip to work, usually from a suburb to a city. Some people are lucky enough to work at home or live very close to where they work. Others are commuters: commuters need to commute — travel — to work. Being a commuter isn't easy, because it might take anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours to get from home to work and then back again, both times during rush hour. Usually, a commuter lives in the suburbs and commutes to the city, where many jobs are.
Vocabulary lists containing commuter
Eleven
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The Worst Class Trip Ever
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No Easy Answers: Our Digital World and "Gadgets and Games"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It has rather led to soaring commuter congestion, and “250,000 tons of additional greenhouse gases each year” as cars sit in traffic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
He found that doubling back on a commuter rail line could save 20 minutes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Metrolink service was not affected as the afternoon rush hour began, according to a spokesperson for the commuter rail system.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
A Thameslink spokesperson said its trains were designed to have ample standing room on board its busiest commuter routes.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
The commuter train hissed its brakes and screech-squealed to a stop.
From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein
Its secret formula, the city says, is embracing businesses, helping the homeless and keeping streets clean, to make downtown a go-to destination for more shoppers, diners and commuters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
More commuters are making use of the company’s ebikes, and events like the NBA Finals also provided a lift, the company says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
This narrow window of operation makes it hard for commuters to take advantage of PHEV’s efficiency.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
Many commuters had problems getting to work as those whose phones were not charged had difficulty paying for transport - and in some cases ordering taxis via apps such as Uber.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Sauropod necks loomed over the rowhouses, carrying commuters back home after a long day grinding in Manhattan.
From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
