cruise

UK: /ˈkruːz/ US: /kruz/ ,(kro̅o̅z)

Inflections of 'cruise' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

cruises

v 3rd person singular

cruising

v pres p

cruised

v past

cruised

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cruise /kruz/   v., cruised, cruis•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to sail about on a pleasure trip:
   [no object] We cruised to the Bahamas.
2. Military to patrol (a body of water), as a warship does: [no object]
   The Coast Guard cutter cruised along the coast.
   [~ + object]
   The destroyer cruised the area of the wreckage.
3. Transport to travel at a constant speed that permits maximum efficiency:
   [no object] announced that our plane would cruise at 37,000 feet.
4. to travel about (some place) slowly, as to look for customers or to maintain order: [no object]
   Taxis and police cars were cruising in the downtown area.
   [~ + object]
   The police were cruising the red-light district.
5. Informal Terms to go or look about (the streets, public areas or places, etc.) in search of a sexual partner: [no object]
   cruising on the streets.
   [~ + object]
   cruising the bars.

n. [countable]

6. a pleasure voyage on a ship:
   We went on a cruise to see the Arctic Circle.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cruise  (kro̅o̅z), v., cruised, cruis•ing, n. 
v.i. 

1. to sail about on a pleasure trip.
2. Military to sail about, as a warship patrolling a body of water.
3. to travel about without a particular purpose or destination.
4. Transport to fly, drive, or sail at a constant speed that permits maximum operating efficiency for sustained travel.
5. Transport to travel at a moderately fast, easily controllable speed:
   cruising along the highway enjoying the scenery.
6. to travel about slowly, looking for customers or for something demanding attention:
   Taxis and police cars cruise in the downtown area.
7. to go or travel (often fol. by over):
   Let's cruise over to my house after the concert.
8. Informal Terms to go about on the streets or in public areas in search of a sexual partner.

v.t. 

9. to cruise in (a specified area):
   patrol cars cruising the neighborhood; to cruise the Caribbean.
10. Informal Terms
    • to move slowly through or visit (a street, park, bar, etc.) in search of a sexual partner.
    • to make sexual overtures to;
      attempt to arouse the sexual interest of.
11. Agriculture to inspect (a tract of forest) for the purpose of estimating lumber potential.

n. 

12. the act of cruising.
13. a pleasure voyage on a ship, usually with stops at various ports.

• Dutch kruisen to cross, cruise, derivative of kruis cross
• 1645–55

cruis′ing•ly, adv. 

Cruise  (kro̅o̅z), n. 

1. Biographical Tom (Thomas Cruise Mapother, 4th), born 1962, U.S. film actor.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cruise / kruːz/ verb

1. (intransitive) to make a trip by sea in a liner for pleasure, usually calling at a number of ports
2. to sail or travel over (a body of water) for pleasure in a yacht, cruiser, etc
3. (intransitive) to search for enemy vessels in a warship
4. (intransitive) (of a vehicle, aircraft, or vessel) to travel at a moderate and efficient speed

noun

1. an act or instance of cruising, esp a trip by sea

Etymology: 17th Century: from Dutch kruisen to cross, from cruis cross; related to French croiser to cross, cruise, Spanish cruzar, German kreuzen