English Reference
noun · verb

transit

n. · v.
US /ˈtɹænzɪt/ UK /tɹˈænsɪt/ tran·sit UK spelling transited, transits

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.the act of moving things or people from one place to another.

    n.the act of passing over, across, or through; the process of being conveyed from one location to another.

    Simple

    The goods were damaged while they were in transit between the two cities.

    In context

    The logistics manager confirmed that the raw materials were currently in transit and would arrive at the manufacturing facility by dawn.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    n.a system of buses, trains, and other vehicles that people use to travel.

    n.a system of public conveyance for passengers, typically operated on a fare-paying basis within an urban environment.

    Simple

    The city is investing millions of dollars to improve the local transit system.

    In context

    Urban planners argue that a robust mass transit network is essential for reducing carbon emissions in densely populated metropolitan areas.

    public transportmass transit
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    n.when a planet or moon moves across the face of a larger star or planet.

    n.the passage of a celestial body across the observer's meridian or across the disk of a larger celestial body.

    Simple

    Astronomers gathered to watch the rare transit of Venus across the sun.

    In context

    The detection of exoplanets often relies on observing a slight dip in stellar brightness during a planetary transit.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Formal

    v.to travel through or across an area.

    v.to pass over, across, or through a specific region or space; often used in maritime or aviation contexts.

    Simple

    The ship had to transit the Suez Canal to reach the Mediterranean Sea.

    In context

    International law governs the rights of commercial vessels to transit through territorial waters without undue interference from coastal states.

  5. 05 C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

    v.to carry data traffic between different computer networks.

    v.to carry communications traffic to and from a customer or another network, typically on a commercial compensation basis.

    Simple

    The provider charges a fee to transit data from our servers to the global web.

    In context

    Tier 1 networks typically peer with one another while charging smaller ISPs to transit their traffic across the backbone.

The paper says people smugglers are using the UK as a "transit hub" for migrants hoping to reach other European countries.

BBC News· 18 Aug 2026

Arctic transits are seasonally limited by ice conditions but increased from 15 to 23 container ships between 2024 and 2025.

Phys.org· 16 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated