travel
travel
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "travel" is /ˈtræv.əl/.
/ˈtræv/
/əl/
Word Form Variations
Verb: travel (base form), travels (third person singular present), traveling/travelling (present participle), traveled/travelled (past simple, past participle)
Noun: travel (singular, often uncountable), travels (plural, refers to journeys or accounts of journeys)
Adjective: travel (used attributively, e.g., "travel agency," "travel guide")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To go from one place to another, typically over a distance of some length.
Synonyms: journey, voyage, trek, tour, commute, wander, explore, move
Antonyms: stay, remain, settle, stop, halt, reside
Definition 2: To move or proceed in a specified way or direction.
Synonyms: move, proceed, go, advance, pass, progress
Antonyms: stop, pause, recede, retreat
Definition 3: (Of light, sound, or a force) To move or be transmitted.
Synonyms: transmit, propagate, spread, extend
Antonyms: remain, cease, dissipate
Definition 4: (Of news or information) To spread from one place to another.
Synonyms: spread, disseminate, circulate, diffuse, extend
Antonyms: contain, suppress, localize, hide
Noun
Definition 1: The action of going from one place to another, especially over a long distance.
Synonyms: journey, voyage, trip, expedition, tour, commute, migration
Antonyms: stay, residence, immobility, stagnation
Definition 2: (Often plural "travels") Accounts or experiences of journeys.
Synonyms: adventures, explorations, wanderings, peregrinations (formal)
Antonyms: confinement, stasis, immobility
Definition 3: The movement or displacement of a part in a machine or device.
Synonyms: movement, displacement, stroke, range, excursion
Antonyms: immobility, fixity, rigidity, stasis
Adjective
Definition 1: Relating to or designed for traveling. (Used attributively)
Synonyms: touring, nomadic, portable, compact (for items)
Antonyms: stationary, fixed, domestic, home-based
Examples of Use
Books:
"The book recounted his arduous travels across the Sahara Desert, detailing every challenge and triumph." (From a non-fiction travelogue or adventure memoir)
"She dreamed of one day being able to travel the world, exploring every continent and culture." (Fictional example from a coming-of-age novel)
"This guide provides essential tips for safe and affordable international travel for students." (From a non-fiction guide book)
Newspapers:
"Kenya Airways announced new direct flights to enhance international travel connections." ("Business Daily Africa,")
"The President urged citizens to limit non-essential travel amidst rising fuel prices." ("Daily Nation," )
"Scientists found that sound waves travel faster in warmer water, impacting sonar technology." ("The New York Times,")
Online Publications:
"Our ultimate guide to budget travel in Europe: How to see more for less." (An article on a travel blog, e.g., Lonely Planet Online)
"The new feature allows data to travel seamlessly between your devices in real-time." (A tech review on "The Verge,")
"Explore our travel photography tips for capturing breathtaking landscapes on your next adventure." (An article on a photography website, e.g., National Geographic Online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Oh, the places you'll go!" (Dr. Seuss's Oh, the Places You'll Go!, 1990) - This speaks to the joy and potential of future "travel."
Television Series: "Our adventurers must travel across treacherous terrain to reach the ancient temple before nightfall." (Narration from an adventure or fantasy series, e.g., Game of Thrones)
Song Lyrics: "I've been everywhere, man, I've been everywhere. Crossed the deserts bare, man, breathed the mountain air, man. Travel, I've had my share, man, I've been everywhere." (Johnny Cash, "I've Been Everywhere," 1996)
Video Games: "Your character needs to travel quickly to the next city before the plague spreads." (In-game objective or warning, e.g., Plague Inc.)
Podcasts: "In this episode, we share our favorite travel hacks for a stress-free trip to the coast." (A podcast on travel tips, e.g., The Travel Podcast)
General Public Discourse:
"Are you planning to travel this holiday season?" (A common question)
"I love to travel and experience new cultures." (A personal preference)
"How long does it take for light to travel from the sun to Earth?" (A common science question)
"My job involves a lot of international travel." (A statement about one's profession)
"His passion is travel photography; he's always sharing amazing pictures from his trips." (Describing someone's hobby)
"We need to ensure the safe travel of all passengers." (A statement about public safety)
10 Quotes Using Travel
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." (Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching) - This classic quote describes the beginning of "travel."
"I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list." (Susan Sontag) - This speaks to the desire for extensive "travel."
"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." (Saint Augustine)
"To travel is to live." (Hans Christian Andersen)
"I've been everywhere, man, I've been everywhere. Crossed the deserts bare, man, breathed the mountain air, man. Travel, I've had my share, man, I've been everywhere." (Johnny Cash, "I've Been Everywhere," 1996)
"Not all those who wander are lost." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 1954) - This describes a form of "travel."
"Life is a journey, not a destination." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) - This uses "journey" as synonymous with "travel."
"Travel far enough, you meet yourself." (David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, 2004)
"Home is where the heart is." (Pliny the Elder) - This implies a destination from which one might "travel" or to which one returns.
"Remember that happiness is a way of travel—not a destination." (Roy M. Goodman)
Etymology
The word "travel" has an interesting and somewhat surprising origin, connected to "work" and even "torture"!
It comes from the Old French word travail.
This Old French word meant "work," "toil," "suffering," or "a painful journey."
Travail itself came from the Vulgar Latin word tripalium, which was originally the name of a three-staked instrument of torture or restraint. (The "tri-" means three, and "-palium" relates to stake).
So, the original idea was of hardship, effort, or painful exertion.
When "travel" first entered the English language, in the late 13th century (around 1290), its initial meaning was "to journey, especially on foot, with difficulty or toil." The emphasis was on the arduous nature of the trip.
Over time, as journeys became safer and less physically demanding, the word gradually lost its strong sense of pain and toil. By the 14th century, it simply meant "to go from one place to another," regardless of the difficulty, leading to our modern, more neutral meaning of "travel." The older, more intense meaning still survives in the word "travail" (pronounced differently, /trəˈveɪl/), which means "painful or laborious effort."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Travel
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "travel":
Travel light: To carry very little luggage when traveling.
Travel broadens the mind: Experiencing new places and cultures expands one's understanding.
Travel bug: A strong desire to travel.
Safe travels!: A common farewell wish for someone embarking on a journey.
Travel well: To endure a journey without difficulty; (of food/goods) to transport well.
To travel the high road: To take the morally superior or more principled path.
Travel-sized: Small versions of products designed for convenience when traveling.
Armchair traveler: Someone who learns about distant places by reading or watching media, rather than by actual travel.
To go the distance: To complete a journey or task fully, despite difficulties. (Synonym for "to travel all the way")
Mile a minute: Extremely fast. (Often used to describe how quickly time or thoughts "travel")
Well-traveled: Having visited many places; experienced in travel.
To travel in style: To travel in a luxurious or comfortable manner.
Travel agency: A business that helps people plan and book trips.
The path less taken: An uncommon or unconventional course of action. (Synonym for "to travel a unique path")
To hit the road: To begin a journey. (Synonym for "to start traveling")
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of travel from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
