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.

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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.

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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

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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)

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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

Even a slimmed-down version of the plan could harm cruise companies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Find insight on cruise demand, the Strait of Hormuz, Air Canada and more in the latest Market Talks covering the auto and transport sector.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

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

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

Falling oil prices sparked a broad rally in travel stocks, including airlines and cruise lines, which had been burdened by rising fuel costs.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

They were heading along what looked like an interstate highway, with the cruise control set to an even sixty-five.

From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman

Related Words

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