journey

1 of 2

noun

jour·​ney ˈjər-nē 

plural journeys

1

: something suggesting travel or passage from one place to another

the journey from youth to maturity

a journey through time

2

: an act or instance of traveling from one place to another : trip

a three-day journey

going on a long journey

3

chiefly dialectal : a day's travel

journey

2 of 2

verb

journeyed; journeying

intransitive verb

: to go on a journey : travel

transitive verb

: to travel over or through

journeyer noun

Did you know?

The Latin adjective diurnus means “pertaining to a day, daily”; English diurnal stems ultimately from this word. When Latin developed into French, diurnus became a noun, jour, meaning simply “day” The medieval French derivative journee meant either “day” or “something done during the day,” such as work or travel. Middle English borrowed journee as journey in both senses, but only the sense “a day’s travel” survived into modern usage. In modern English, journey now refers to a trip without regard to the amount of time it takes. The verb journey developed from the noun and is first attested in the 14th century.

Synonyms of journey

Noun

• trip
• expedition
• trek

Verb

• travel
• trek
• voyage
• trip
• tour
• pilgrimage

Examples of journey in a Sentence

Noun

a long journey across the country

She's on the last leg of a six-month journey through Europe.

We wished her a safe and pleasant journey.

Verb

She was the first woman to journey into space.

an intense yearning to journey to distant lands

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Last month, Jackson shared more about her journey to sobriety while accepting the Shining Star Award at the Friendly House Awards Luncheon. —Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025

Helping Sotheby’s achieve such an eye-watering figure was Mercedes Gleitze’s ‘Companion Oyster,’ an ultra-rare Rolex prototype worn by the first British women to swim the English Channel on one of her many journeys across the water. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 11 Nov. 2025

Verb

Many people journey deeper into the Rockies on an overland tour of Lake Louise and Banff, ending in Calgary. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 11 Nov. 2025

The standard per-charge range on dual batteries is reported to be just 70 km (43 miles), but the vehicle's battery compartment can accommodate two additional units for the prospect of longer journeys away from the plug. —New Atlas, 10 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French jurnee day, day's journey, from jur day, from Late Latin diurnum, from Latin, neuter of diurnus of the day — more at journal entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for journey

• burnie
• gurney
• tourney
• attorney
• mcburney

Kids Definition

journey

1 of 2 noun

jour·​ney ˈjər-nē 

plural journeys

: travel from one place to another

journey

2 of 2 verb

journeyed; journeying

: to go on a journey

journeyer noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English journey "a trip, travel," from early French journee "day's work, day's journey," from jour "day," derived from Latin diurnus "of a day, daily," from dies "day" — related to diary, journal

Word Origin

The Latin word dies means "day," and diurnus means "of a day." From the word diurnus came the early French jour, meaning "day," and journee, meaning "a day's work, a day's travel." Journee was borrowed into Middle English with both of its meanings, but only the second one, "a day's travel," came into widespread use. The modern form journey now refers to travel without regard to the amount of time taken. The English word journal can also be traced back to the Latin dies. From the adjective diurnus, the word diurnalis, meaning "daily," was formed. This was taken into French as journal. In this form it was borrowed into Middle English. It was at first also used to mean "daily," but it is now found only as a noun in English.