traverse

verb tra·verse \ trə-ˈvərs also tra-ˈvərs or ˈtra-(ˌ)vərs \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Examples: traverse in a Sentence

Definition of traverse

traversed; traversing

transitive verb

1 a : to go or travel across or over

b : to move or pass along or through

light rays traversing a crystal

2 : to make a study of : examine

3 : to lie or extend across : cross

the bridge traverses a brook

4 a : to move to and fro over or along

b : to ascend, descend, or cross (a slope or gap) at an angle

c : to move (a gun) to right or left on a pivot

5 a : to go against or act in opposition to : oppose, thwart

b : to deny (something, such as an allegation of fact or an indictment) formally at law

6 : to make or carry out a survey of by using traverses

intransitive verb

1 : to move back and forth or from side to side

2 : to move or turn laterally : swivel

3 a : to climb at an angle or in a zigzag course

b : to ski across rather than straight down a hill

4 : to make a survey by using traverses

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traversable

play \trə-ˈvər-sə-bəl also tra-ˈvər- or ˈtra-(ˌ)vər-\ adjective

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traverser

noun

See traverse defined for English-language learners

Examples of traverse in a Sentence

The candidates traversed the state throughout the campaign.
The river traverses the county.

Recent Examples of traverse from the Web

There’s also the narrow Robidoux Pass, a gap that travelers used to traverse the Wildcat Hills and get their first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains.

— laura kiniry, Smithsonian, "The 20 Best Small Towns To Visit in 2018," 5 June 2018
Over the course of 5 1/2 years, the sign traversed nearly 4,000 miles (6,437 kilometers).

— Fox News, "Realty sign lost during Superstorm Sandy ends up in France," 1 June 2018
Over the course of 5 1/2 years, the sign traversed nearly 4,000 miles (6,437 kilometers).

— CBS News, "New Jersey sign lost during Superstorm Sandy ends up in France," 1 June 2018
Traveling by car, Brown and Albright traversed the state's back roads and byways, raising money to help grow support for participation in the election and future ones.

— Essence.com, "Meet The Women Who Turned The Tide In Alabama," 30 May 2018
To reach the restoration site where this crew is working, Silver traversed a realm of perfection: cool, pellucid pools and side channels of Elk Creek, a tributary of the Hoh.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "Battling Scotch broom along Olympic’s Hoh River that threatens fish, forests," 27 May 2018
Hundreds of Preakness goers traversed through mudpits and large puddles of water, with their shoes and legs covered in brown sludge.

— brittany britto, baltimoresun.com, "Preakness 2018 is all about the mud — and yes, mud wrestling," 19 May 2018
Wonder then will traverse the Panama Canal and make its home starting late November in Galveston for two months of four-, six- and seven-night voyages.

— richard tribou, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Disney Cruise Line to sail from Florida, California, New York and Texas in fall 2019," 17 May 2018
Guests, however, must traverse the empty kitchen space to reach other parts of the tour.

— mark davis, kansascity, "Some designer showhouse, Kansas City. Where's the kitchen? | The Kansas City Star," 9 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'traverse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of traverse

Middle English, from Anglo-French traverser, from Late Latin transversare, from Latin transversus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 5a

See Words from the same year

traverse Synonyms

Synonyms

course, cover, cross, cut (across), follow, go, navigate, pass (over), perambulate, peregrinate, proceed (along), track, transit, travel;

Related Words

hike, traipse, tramp, tread, walk;

ride, run;

crisscross;

traverse

noun tra·verse \ ˈtra-vərs also -ˌvərs , especially for senses 6 and 8 also trə-ˈvərs or tra-ˈvərs \

Definition of traverse

1 : something that crosses or lies across

2 : obstacle, adversity

3 : a formal denial of a matter of fact alleged by the opposing party in a legal pleading

4 a : a compartment or recess formed by a partition, curtain, or screen

b : a gallery or loft providing access from one side to another in a large building

5 : a route or way across or over: such as

a : a zigzag course of a sailing ship with contrary winds

b : a curving or zigzag way up a steep grade

c : the course followed in traversing

6 : the act or an instance of traversing : crossing

7 : a protective projecting wall or bank of earth in a trench

8 a : a lateral movement (as of the saddle of a lathe carriage); also : a device for imparting such movement

b : the lateral movement of a gun about a pivot or on a carriage to change direction of fire

9 : a line surveyed across a plot of ground

See traverse defined for kids

Recent Examples of traverse from the Web

Shiffrin was the 19th skier to go down the hill and ended the run 1.98 seconds behind Vonn after looking shaky coming out of the first traverse.

— jason duaine hahn, PEOPLE.com, "Mikaela Shiffrin Wins Silver in Olympic Face-Off With Lindsey Vonn at Women's Alpine Combined Race," 22 Feb. 2018
Kilmer last week helped cut the ribbon on Amtrak's new Freighthouse Square station, within his district, which the new $181 million bypass traverses.

— josh farley, USA TODAY, "Washington officials remain committed to bypass, site of deadly train derailment," 19 Dec. 2017
Analyses by the team, including carbon dating, suggest that the excreta dug up at the Traversette site could date to well within the ballpark of the Punic forces’ traverse.

— Smithsonian, "How (and Where) Did Hannibal Cross the Alps?," 29 July 2017
The route also crosses seven bridges—including a three-wire bridge and a Tyrolean traverse (basically a horizontal zipline in which climbers clip onto a rope or wire and pull themselves across).

— jennifer billock, Smithsonian, "Climb a 2,500-Rung Ladder Up New Zealand’s Towering Twin Falls," 19 Oct. 2017
The blue swath on my westernmost map — the Bering Strait, endpoint of my traverse — stretches south to encompass my former hometown of Nome.

— michael engelhard, Alaska Dispatch News, "Traversing the Brooks Range, step by revealing step," 9 Sep. 2017
Analyses by the team, including carbon dating, suggest that the excreta dug up at the Traversette site could date to well within the ballpark of the Punic forces’ traverse.

— Smithsonian, "How (and Where) Did Hannibal Cross the Alps?," 29 July 2017
Analyses by the team, including carbon dating, suggest that the excreta dug up at the Traversette site could date to well within the ballpark of the Punic forces’ traverse.

— Smithsonian, "How (and Where) Did Hannibal Cross the Alps?," 29 July 2017
Some climbers hire guides for the trip, and some of those guides rope up clients for tougher traverses.

— craig r. mccoy / staff writer, Philly.com, "Horror on the mountain," 12 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of traverse

Middle English travers, from Anglo-French travers (as in a travers, de travers across), from Latin transversum (as in in transversum set crosswise), neuter of transversus lying across; senses 5–9 in part from ¹traverse — more at ¹transverse

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

traverse

adjective tra·verse \ ˈtra-(ˌ)vərs , trə-ˈvərs , tra-ˈvərs \

Definition of traverse

: lying across : transverse

First Known Use of traverse

15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

TRAVERSE Defined for English Language Learners

traverse

verb

Definition of traverse for English Language Learners

: to move across (an area)

TRAVERSE Defined for Kids

traverse

verb tra·verse \ trə-ˈvərs \

Definition of traverse for Students

traversed; traversing

: to pass through, across, or over

Law Dictionary

traverse

noun tra·verse \ ˈtra-ˌvərs, trə-ˈvərs \

legal Definition of traverse

: a denial of a matter of fact alleged in the opposing party's pleadings; also : a pleading in which such a denial is made

traverse

transitive verb tra·verse \ trə-ˈvərs, ˈtra-ˌvərs \

legal Definition of traverse

: to deny (as an allegation of fact or an indictment) in a legal proceeding

Origin and Etymology of traverse

Anglo-French traverser, literally, to lay across, bar, impede, from Old French, from Late Latin transversare to cross, from Latin transversus lying across