travel
- 01 A1 Beginner
v.to go from one place to another, especially over a long distance.
v.to make a journey; to move from one geographic location to another, typically for leisure or professional purposes.
Simple“They plan to travel across Europe by train next summer.”
In context“The executive had to travel extensively throughout Southeast Asia to oversee the opening of the new regional offices.”
UsageIntransitive; often followed by a prepositional phrase indicating direction or duration.
PitfallI am going to travel to London tomorrow. I am going to London tomorrow.In English, we usually use 'go' for specific short trips. Use 'travel' for the general activity or long, complex journeys.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
v.to move from one point to another, like light or sound.
v.to move, pass, or be transmitted through a medium or along a path.
Simple“Sound travels much slower than light, which is why you see lightning first.”
In context“The shockwaves from the earthquake travelled hundreds of miles, causing minor tremors in neighbouring countries.”
UsageOften used with adverbs of speed or manner.
- 03 A2 Elementary
n.the general activity of going to different places.
n.the general activity or concept of making journeys.
Simple“Travel is much cheaper now than it was thirty years ago.”
In context“International travel has seen a significant increase in volume since the introduction of budget airlines in the late nineties.”
UsageUncountable when referring to the general activity.
PitfallI had a very good travel last week. I had a very good trip last week.Use 'travel' for the general activity (uncountable). Use 'trip' or 'journey' for a single, specific occasion (countable).
Synonymstourismvoyaging - 04 B1 Intermediate
n.the specific journeys someone has made, often over a long time.
n.a series of journeys or an account of experiences gained while journeying.
Simple“She wrote a fascinating book about her travels in South America.”
In context“In his later years, the explorer frequently lectured on his travels through the uncharted regions of the Amazon basin.”
UsageAlmost always used in the plural form 'travels'.
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
n.the distance a part of a machine moves.
n.the range or distance of movement of a mechanical part, such as a piston or a keyboard key.
Simple“This laptop keyboard has very short travel, so it feels different to type on.”
In context“The engineer adjusted the cylinder to increase the travel of the piston, thereby improving the machine's overall efficiency.”
travel vs journey vs trip — Travel is the general activity, a journey is the movement from A to B, and a trip is the entire visit including the return.
Usage travel along · travel long · travel around the world
PIE word *tréyes From Middle English travelen (“to make a laborious journey, travel”) from Middle Scots travailen (“to toil, work, travel”), alteration of Middle English travaillen (“to toil, work”), from Old French travailler (“to trouble, suffer, be worn out”). See the doublets travail and travois. Compare typologically routine << Latin rupta via. Note the inverse semantic vectors: travel moves from a subjective state (toil) to an objective action (journey), while routine moves from an objective object (beaten path) to a subjective pattern (habit). Largely displaced native fare, from Old English faran (“to go [a long distance], to travel”). More at fare.
From Middle English travail, travell, from Old French travail, travaille, travaillie, traval, travalle, traveaul, traveil, traveille, travel. Doublet of travail.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.