travel

present singular third person travels · US participle present traveling · UK participle present travelling · US participle past traveled · US past traveled · UK participle past travelled · UK past travelled · first person past singular travelled · US first person past singular traveled · archaic present second person singular travellest · archaic present second person singular travelest · past second person singular travelled · US past second person singular traveled · archaic past second person singular travelledst · archaic past second person singular traveledst · present singular third person travels

1. intransitiveTo be on a journey, often for pleasure or business and with luggage; to go from one place to another.

   Snakes do not travel well.

   5 more examples

   John seems to spend as much time travelling as he does in the office.

   I still travel to work by bus.

   He that feareth oblatration must not travel.

   1661, John Stephens, “Prol.”, in An Historical Discourse...

   Then, when Moses had fulfilled the term, and was travelling with his housefolk, he saw in the distance a fire and said unto his housefolk: Bide ye (here). Lo! I see in the distance a fire; peradventure I shall bring you tidings thence, or a brand from the fire that ye may warm yourselves.

   1930, Marmaduke Pickthall, transl., The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, New York: Alfred A Knop, surah 28, verse 29, page 397

   And Netherlands, backed by a typically noisy and colourful travelling support, started the second period in blistering fashion and could have had four goals within 10 minutes

   2012 June 9, Owen Phillips, “Euro 2012: Netherlands 0-1 Denmark”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 15 Feb 2022

2. intransitiveTo pass from one place to another; to move or transmit.

   Soundwaves can travel through water.

   1 more example

   The supposedly secret news of Mary's engagement travelled quickly through her group of friends.

   Synonyms: range

3. intransitiveball gamesTo move illegally by walking or running without dribbling the ball.
4. transitiveTo travel throughout (a place).

   I’ve travelled the world.

5. transitiveTo force to journey.

   They shall not be travailed forth of their own franchises.

   1596 (date written; published 1633), Edmund Spenser, A Vewe of the Present State of Irelande […], Dublin: […] Societie of Stationers, […], →OCLC; republished as A View of the State of Ireland […] (Ancient Irish Histories), Dublin: […] Society of Stationers, […] Hibernia Press, […] [b]y John Morrison, 1809, →OCLC

6. obsoleteTo labour; to travail.

   We labour sore, and travel hard, and much Study is a Weariness to our Flesh; and of making many Books there is no End.

   1719, William Tilly, The Acceptable Sacrifice, page 335

   2 more examples

   Necessity will make men fare hard, and work hard, and travel hard, go bare, and suffer much; yea it will even cut off a leg or arm to save their lives;

   1707, Richard Baxter, The Practical Works of the Late Reverend and Pious Mr. Richard Baxter, page 646

   Man holds in constant service bound The blustering winds and seas; Nor suns disdain to travel hard Their master, man, to please;

   1794, “Resignation”, in A Complete Edition of the Poets of Great Britain.Volume 10, page 144

plural travels · alternative obsolete travail · alternative obsolete travell

1. countableuncountableThe act of traveling; passage from place to place.

   space travel

   2 more examples

   I like travel, but it’s always too tiring.

   a travel iron

   Synonyms: journey, passage, tour, trip, voyage

2. countablein pluraluncountableA series of journeys.

   I’m off on my travels around France again.

   1 more example

   But overall, I think the railway delivered very well on my travels. I'd give it 9/10 - there are just a few little rough edges that need smoothing off.

   2023 November 29, 'Mystery Shopper', “Does the railway deliver for passengers?”, in RAIL, number 997, page 53

3. countablein pluraluncountableAn account of one's travels.

   He released his travels in 1900, two years after returning from Africa.

   1 more example

   CALUAT, s. This in some old travels is used for Ar. khilwat, 'privacy, a private interview' (C. P. Brown, MS.).

   1903, Henry Yule, Arthur Burnell, Hobson-Jobson

4. countableuncountableThe activity or traffic along a route or through a given point.
5. countableuncountableThe working motion of a piece of machinery; the length of a mechanical stroke.

   My drill press has a travel of only 1.5 inches.

   1 more example

   There was a lot of travel in the handle, because the tool was out of adjustment.

   Synonyms: stroke, movement, progression

6. countableobsoleteuncountableLabour; parturition; travail.

   Hard Labour is when more vehement Pains and dangerous Symptomes happen to Women in Travel, and continue a longer time.

   1667, John Tanner, The hidden treasures of the art of physick, page 208

7. countableuncountableDistance that a keyboard's key moves vertically when depressed.

   The keys have great travel.