English Reference

Word

cruising

Phoneticscruis·ing

US/ˈkɹuzɪŋ/

UK/kɹˈuːzɪŋ/

Definitions

01traveling at a steady speed

B1

v. traveling at a constant, comfortable speed, especially in a car, boat, or plane.

v. maintaining a constant and efficient speed during transit, typically after the acceleration phase.

“The pilot said we would be cruising at thirty thousand feet for the rest of the flight.”

“Once the vessel cleared the harbour, the captain maintained a cruising speed that balanced fuel efficiency with the scheduled arrival time.”

Usage

Often used with 'at' to specify speed or altitude.

Synonyms

02recreational sailing

B1

n. the activity of sailing around on a ship for a holiday or for fun.

n. the act of travelling by sea for pleasure, often visiting several places as part of a holiday.

“They spent their summer cruising around the Greek islands on a small yacht.”

“The rise of luxury cruising has transformed the local economy, bringing thousands of tourists to the port every weekend during the peak season.”

Synonyms

voyagingboating

03driving for fun

B2

n. driving around a town or area slowly, usually to see people or be seen by others.

n. the social activity of driving a vehicle slowly and aimlessly through public spaces, often associated with youth culture.

“On Friday nights, many teenagers go cruising down the main street in their cars.”

“Local residents complained about the noise and traffic congestion caused by groups cruising through the historic district late at night.”

Informal

Synonyms

joyriding

04baby's early walking

C1

n. when a baby walks by holding onto furniture for support before they can walk alone.

n. a developmental stage in infant motor skills where the child walks while maintaining balance by holding onto external objects.

“The baby is cruising now, so we have to make sure all the furniture is stable.”

“Pediatricians monitor cruising as a vital milestone, as it demonstrates the muscular strength and coordination required for independent ambulation.”

Technical

Usage

Commonly used in child development contexts.

05searching for a partner

C1

n. walking or driving around looking for a casual sexual partner.

n. the practice of walking or driving in public areas to find a partner for casual sexual encounters.

“The park was a well-known spot for cruising after dark.”

“Sociological studies of urban subcultures have often examined cruising as a method of establishing social and sexual connections in anonymous public spaces.”

Slang

Teaching tip

This sense is specific to sexual subcultures; learners should be aware of its sensitive nature in general conversation.

Etymology

By surface analysis, cruise + -ing.

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

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/cruising

English Reference