cruising speed
noun
: the speed at which an airplane, a boat, etc., usually moves when it is traveling at a fast speed for a long distance
The boat has a cruising speed of 25 knots.
The boat handled well at cruising speed.
Examples of cruising speed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Transatlantic flights from northern Europe — London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Copenhagen — routinely cross the southern half of the island, the bright, barren ice sheet often visible for up to an hour of cruising speed.
—
Morten Høi Jensen, The Dial, 19 June 2025
At highway cruising speed, the SUV is satisfactory.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 16 June 2025
Standard power of twin 2,000 hp MAN V-12 engines deliver a top speed of 25 knots, with a friendly 21-knot cruising speed.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 28 May 2025
The study also found that Megalodon’s estimated cruising speed, based on the structure of its scales, was between 1.3 and 2.2 miles (2.1-3.5 kilometers) per hour, comparable to that of today’s great white sharks.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Back then its four thrusters – totaling 60 kW – were engineered to push the three-person submersible to speeds of 8 knots – that's reportedly faster than the cruising speed of a bottlenose dolphin – at depths of up to 300 m (984.25 ft).
—Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 25 Jan. 2025
The boats have a mellow cruising speed of seven miles per hour and are easy to captain on this distinctly urban lake, which offers views of the Seattle skyline, the Space Needle, Gas Works Park and St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral.
—Mike Seely, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2024
Normal cruising speed on the fuel cells is 14 knots and a top speed of 17 knots can be achieved by adding the battery power to the DC electrical grid.
—Bill Springer, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
The kayak has a motor-only cruising speed of 10 km/h (6 mph).
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2024
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Morten Høi Jensen, The Dial, 19 June 2025
At highway cruising speed, the SUV is satisfactory.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 16 June 2025
Standard power of twin 2,000 hp MAN V-12 engines deliver a top speed of 25 knots, with a friendly 21-knot cruising speed.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 28 May 2025
The study also found that Megalodon’s estimated cruising speed, based on the structure of its scales, was between 1.3 and 2.2 miles (2.1-3.5 kilometers) per hour, comparable to that of today’s great white sharks.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Back then its four thrusters – totaling 60 kW – were engineered to push the three-person submersible to speeds of 8 knots – that's reportedly faster than the cruising speed of a bottlenose dolphin – at depths of up to 300 m (984.25 ft).
—Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 25 Jan. 2025
The boats have a mellow cruising speed of seven miles per hour and are easy to captain on this distinctly urban lake, which offers views of the Seattle skyline, the Space Needle, Gas Works Park and St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral.
—Mike Seely, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2024
Normal cruising speed on the fuel cells is 14 knots and a top speed of 17 knots can be achieved by adding the battery power to the DC electrical grid.
—Bill Springer, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
The kayak has a motor-only cruising speed of 10 km/h (6 mph).
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Cruising speed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cruising%20speed. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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