lo·co·mo·tive
ˌlō-kə-ˈmō-tiv 
1
2
: of or relating to travel
3
: of, relating to, or being a machine that moves about by operation of its own mechanism
1
: a self-propelled vehicle that runs on rails and is used for moving railroad cars
2
: a school or college cheer characterized by a slow beginning and a progressive increase in speed
Examples of locomotive in a Sentence
Adjective
the locomotive ability of spiders
Recent Examples on the Web
Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024
Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap out of a market slump in a single bound!
—Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
One locomotive fireman named Frank Goodrich had to have his leg amputated due to injuries from the crash, and four cattle being carried in the freight cars were killed.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024
The train's two steam locomotive engines will leave the zoo; they've been sold to the Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society in Wisconsin Dells.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024
Behar said she was forced to verbally accost a locomotive employee because the woman wouldn't let Behar, who had a coach-class ticket, use an exclusive bathroom aboard the craft.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2023
The first company to locate at Neighborhood 91 was locomotive manufacturer Wabtec, which uses the space to house its innovative aluminum 3D printing for locomotive braking systems.
—Carolyn Schwaar, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Now a global phenomenon, Primal Moves was started in Ibiza by Nick Brewer, a former prisoner who uses the movements of yoga, pilates and full-body locomotive patterns to form this bendy cult workout.
—Chloe Sachdev, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2024
Sure, Ye is rapping in fuller, more locomotive sentences again, but everything that manages to jump out of the mix does so on whiffed shock value.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
The train derailed on impact and the locomotive rolled onto its side, Kessler said.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2024
Kids will love exploring the historic locomotive housed within.
—David Nikel, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
No hazardous materials spilled other than the diesel that leaked from the locomotives into the river.
—Josh Funk, Quartz, 26 Mar. 2024
Imagine, as a kid, stumbling upon the locomotive that is Live at Leeds.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024
From the first locomotives to the dawn of aviation, our quest to travel faster has consistently reshaped society.
—Sassie Duggleby, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024
Just a few hundred steam locomotives remain in working condition around the U.S. today.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 29 Feb. 2024
Instead, guests sampled the locomotive’s constituent parts served in little paper boats.
—The Indianapolis Star, 27 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The freight cars were destroyed by the accident, but the tender and locomotive were repaired and returned to service.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024
Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap out of a market slump in a single bound!
—Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
One locomotive fireman named Frank Goodrich had to have his leg amputated due to injuries from the crash, and four cattle being carried in the freight cars were killed.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024
The train's two steam locomotive engines will leave the zoo; they've been sold to the Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society in Wisconsin Dells.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024
Behar said she was forced to verbally accost a locomotive employee because the woman wouldn't let Behar, who had a coach-class ticket, use an exclusive bathroom aboard the craft.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2023
The first company to locate at Neighborhood 91 was locomotive manufacturer Wabtec, which uses the space to house its innovative aluminum 3D printing for locomotive braking systems.
—Carolyn Schwaar, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Now a global phenomenon, Primal Moves was started in Ibiza by Nick Brewer, a former prisoner who uses the movements of yoga, pilates and full-body locomotive patterns to form this bendy cult workout.
—Chloe Sachdev, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2024
Sure, Ye is rapping in fuller, more locomotive sentences again, but everything that manages to jump out of the mix does so on whiffed shock value.
—Chris Richards, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024
Noun
Last year, California air regulators adopted new rules that would eventually phase out heavy-duty trucks and locomotives that burn fossil fuels.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
The train derailed on impact and the locomotive rolled onto its side, Kessler said.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2024
Kids will love exploring the historic locomotive housed within.
—David Nikel, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
No hazardous materials spilled other than the diesel that leaked from the locomotives into the river.
—Josh Funk, Quartz, 26 Mar. 2024
Imagine, as a kid, stumbling upon the locomotive that is Live at Leeds.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024
From the first locomotives to the dawn of aviation, our quest to travel faster has consistently reshaped society.
—Sassie Duggleby, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024
Just a few hundred steam locomotives remain in working condition around the U.S. today.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 29 Feb. 2024
Instead, guests sampled the locomotive’s constituent parts served in little paper boats.
—The Indianapolis Star, 27 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'locomotive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near locomotive
Cite this Entry
“Locomotive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/locomotive. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
locomotive
1 of 2 adjective
lo·co·mo·tive
ˌlō-kə-ˈmōt-iv
1
: of or relating to locomotion
2
: of, relating to, or being a locomotive
locomotive
2 of 2 noun
: an engine that moves under its own power
especially
: one that hauls cars on a railroad
Medical Definition
locomotive
adjective
lo·co·mo·tive
ˌlō-kə-ˈmōt-iv
: locomotor sense 1
locomotive organs include flagella, cilia, pseudopodia, and limbs
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