en route

American  

[ahn root, en, ahn root] / ɑn ˈrut, ɛn, ɑ̃ ˈrut /

adverb

1. on the way.

   The plane crashed en route from Cairo to Athens.

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en route British  

/ ɑ̃ rut, ɒn ˈruːt /

adverb

1. on or along the way; on the road

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en route Idioms  

1. On or along the way, as in We'll pick up Dan en route to the restaurant, or We can finish our discussion en route. This French term was adopted into English in the late 1700s.

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Etymology

Origin of en route

Borrowed into English from French around 1770–80

Example Sentences

The Nasdaq Composite got a boost from an old friend en route to its ninth-consecutive gain.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Boasts a very similar profile to 2023 winner Corach Rambler, who won the same Cheltenham race en route to success here and he has a great chance of landing the same double.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

The plane, which was en route to the island, crashed on landing around 12:20 p.m. in Avalon in a rugged, not easily accessible area, prompting an emergency response from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Paramedics coordinated with the pair en route, meeting near the intersection of North Lewis and Las Posas roads to provide medical assistance, according to Dowd.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

I have no idea what my efficiency would be on the nastier land en route to Ares 4.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir