cruise

¹ American  

[krooz] / kruz /

verb (used without object)

cruised, cruising

1. to sail about on a pleasure trip.

2. to sail about, as a warship patrolling a body of water.

3. to travel about without a particular purpose or destination.

4. to fly, drive, or sail at a constant speed that permits maximum operating efficiency for sustained travel.

5. to travel at a moderately fast, easily controllable speed.

   cruising along the highway enjoying the scenery.

6. to travel about slowly, looking for customers or for something demanding attention.

   Taxis and police cars cruise in the downtown area.

7. to go or travel (often followed byover ).

   Let's cruise over to my house after the concert.

8. Informal. to go about on the streets or in public areas in search of a sexual partner.

---

verb (used with object)

cruised, cruising

1. to cruise in (a specified area).

   patrol cars cruising the neighborhood; to cruise the Caribbean.

2. Informal.

   1. to move slowly through or visit (a street, park, bar, etc.) in search of a sexual partner.

   2. to make sexual overtures to; attempt to arouse the sexual interest of.

3. to inspect (a tract of forest) for the purpose of estimating lumber potential.

noun

1. the act of cruising.

2. a pleasure voyage on a ship, usually with stops at various ports.

Cruise ² American  

[krooz] / kruz /

noun

1. Tom Thomas Cruise Mapother, 4th, born 1962, U.S. film actor.

---

cruise ¹ British  

/ kruːz /

verb

1. (intr) to make a trip by sea in a liner for pleasure, usually calling at a number of ports

2. to sail or travel over (a body of water) for pleasure in a yacht, cruiser, etc

3. (intr) to search for enemy vessels in a warship

4. (intr) (of a vehicle, aircraft, or vessel) to travel at a moderate and efficient speed

5. informal (intr) to search the streets or other public places for a sexual partner

---

noun

1. an act or instance of cruising, esp a trip by sea

Cruise ² British  

/ kruːz /

noun

1. Tom. original name Thomas Cruise Mapother. born 1962, US film actor; his films include Risky Business (1983), Top Gun (1986), Jerry Maguire (1989), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), War of the Worlds (2005), and Valkyrie (2008)

---

Other Word Forms

• cruisingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of cruise

1645–55; < Dutch kruisen to cross, cruise, derivative of kruis cross

Explanation

If your mom announces “We’re taking a cruise!” then pack your bags. A cruise is a vacation spent on a ship that sails the ocean, periodically stopping in ports for sightseeing. Cruise can also be a verb that describes sailing around aimlessly for fun. You might cruise the canals of Venice in a small boat. If you don’t live in Venice, you can still cruise — but you might do it in your car. Cruise can be used to describe a leisurely drive taken just for fun. You might cruise around the neighborhood on a Saturday with no real destination in mind. Cruise can also describe traveling easily at a moderate speed.

Example Sentences

He expects visitor numbers to continue to rise this year, with interest from cruise ship passengers increasing too.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

Snitzer appreciates the newfound use for his corporate skills, going from maximizing the number of full cabins aboard cruise ships to maximizing “the number of full bellies.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Eastern Mediterranean is seeing some hesitation, and cruise lines as a result have upped promotions, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

CEO Torstein Hagan put it like this, just before the expedition vessel set off Tuesday from New York City for a cruise to the Great Lakes—with a pass through Canada.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

Dr. Zamborska mailed the announcement and the photo, and they were waiting at The Lovely Condominium when he returned from the cruise of the Caribbean.

From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg

Related Words

• coast
• drift
• go
• meander
• navigate
• travel