English Reference

Word

cabin

Phoneticscab·in, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈkæbən/

UK/kˈæbɪn/

Definitions

01small wooden house

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a small, simple house, often built of wood and located in a forest or mountain area.

n. a small, rustic dwelling, typically constructed from logs or timber and situated in a remote or rural setting.

“We spent the weekend at a cozy wooden cabin in the mountains.”

“The family retreated to their lakeside cabin every summer to escape the heat and noise of the city.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

02airplane interior

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Computing

n. the area inside an airplane where the passengers sit.

n. the interior compartment of an aircraft designed for the transport of passengers and crew.

“The flight attendant walked through the cabin to check everyone's seatbelt.”

“Modern aircraft are designed with pressurized cabins to ensure passenger comfort and safety at high altitudes.”

03room on a ship

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a private room for a passenger or crew member on a ship.

n. a private room or compartment on a vessel, particularly one used for sleeping.

“Our cabin on the cruise ship was small but had a great view of the ocean.”

“The captain retired to his cabin to review the navigational charts before the storm reached its peak.”

Synonyms

berthstateroomquarters

04private office

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Dialect

n. a small private office for a professional person like a doctor or manager.

n. a partitioned or private office space within a larger building, used by professionals.

“The doctor asked me to wait inside his cabin while he looked at my results.”

“The manager's cabin was situated at the far end of the floor, providing a quiet space for confidential meetings.”

Usage

This sense is primarily used in Indian English.

Teaching tip

In most varieties of English, 'office' or 'consulting room' is preferred; 'cabin' in this context is specific to South Asian dialects.

05to confine

C2 · Proficiency Literary

v. to keep someone or something in a small, tight space.

v. to confine or limit someone within a narrow or restricted space.

“He felt cabined and confined by the small apartment and the busy city life.”

“The poet described feeling cabined by the rigid social expectations of the era, longing for the freedom of the open sea.”

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cabin” in context.

Verb

01. book a cabin

“We decided to book a cabin on the upper deck for our Mediterranean cruise.”

verb + noun

02. share a cabin

“To save money on the ferry, the students agreed to share a cabin.”

verb + noun

Adjective

03. log cabin

“They spent their winter vacation in a cozy log cabin in the mountains.”

adj + noun

04. remote cabin

“The hikers stayed in a remote cabin far away from the nearest village.”

adj + noun

Noun

05. cabin attendant

“Please signal the cabin attendant if you require any assistance during the flight.”

noun + noun

06. cabin crew

“The cabin crew will be serving drinks and snacks shortly after takeoff.”

noun + noun

07. cabin pressure

“Passengers might feel some discomfort if the cabin pressure changes rapidly.”

noun + noun

Preposition

08. in the cabin

“It was surprisingly warm in the cabin despite the freezing weather outside.”

prep + noun

Real-World Examples

“This will be an eight-kilo cabin bag and one personal item.”
The Local 18 Aug 2026
“Passengers managed to pull the man back into the cabin.”
Al Jazeera 14 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English caban, cabane, from Old French cabane, from Medieval Latin capanna (“a cabin”); see further etymology there. Doublet of cabana and cabane.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

cabin(B2)

Related words

Domains

AviationNauticalTravel

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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