# cruise

/ˈkɹuz/ (US) · /kɹˈuːz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cruise
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. holiday on a ship

noun · CEFR B1

a holiday spent on a large ship that visits several different places.

For teachers: a sea voyage for pleasure, typically calling at several ports as a vacation.

- They saved up for a two-week cruise around the Mediterranean islands.
- The luxury cruise offered passengers an all-inclusive experience, featuring nightly entertainment and guided excursions at every port of call.

### 2. steady travel phase

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the part of a flight or journey where the vehicle moves at a steady speed.

For teachers: the portion of a journey, especially in aviation, conducted at a constant airspeed and altitude.

- Once the plane reached its cruise altitude, the flight attendants began serving drinks.
- The pilot maintained a steady cruise for three hours before air traffic control requested a gradual descent into the busy terminal area.

### 3. to travel steadily

verb · CEFR B1

to travel at a steady, efficient speed without stopping.

For teachers: to move at a constant speed for maximum operating efficiency or comfort.

- We spent the afternoon cruising down the highway with the windows open.
- The hybrid vehicle is designed to cruise silently at low speeds, switching to the petrol engine only when rapid acceleration is required.

### 4. to win easily

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to win a game or race very easily and without much effort.

For teachers: to achieve a victory with little effort or opposition.

- The team cruised to a four-zero victory in the final match.
- Despite the early pressure from the challengers, the defending champion cruised to his fifth consecutive title without dropping a single set.

### 5. to look for a partner

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to walk or drive around a place looking for a romantic or sexual partner.

For teachers: to move about a public area actively seeking a casual sexual or romantic partner.

- In the past, people would cruise this street on Friday nights to meet new people.
- The park was historically known as a spot where locals would cruise for companionship after the nearby clubs had closed for the night.

Usage: Often used as an intransitive verb in the context of nightlife or specific social districts.

## Examples

- We are going on a Mediterranean cruise this summer.
- The couple decided to book a luxury cruise around the Caribbean to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary.
- While the environmental impact of the cruise industry remains a subject of intense debate, it continues to be a significant driver of tourism revenue for small island nations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.