adaptive cruise control

noun

: a system in an automobile that can automatically adjust the settings of the cruise control in response to external driving conditions
Jaguar's adaptive cruise control … tracks the speed and position of the car in the lane ahead and automatically adjusts the speed to keep a safe time interval.Bruce McCall

Examples of adaptive cruise control in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The new driver display is crisp and easy to see, a head up display delivers all the key data points right in your field of vision and chrome buttons that surround the inner portion of the steering wheel can be tapped for things like adaptive cruise control and or to activate Spirit assistance. Scotty Reiss, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 Right now, the system controls speed and allows for hands-free steering with adaptive cruise control and can initiate lane changes within geofenced areas on divided and non-divided roads. Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 8 July 2025 Even so, autonomous tech is becoming increasingly common in both commercial and private vehicles — think anti-lock brakes, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane assist, camera systems … the list goes on and on. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 June 2025 Forward and rear automatic braking, blind-sense and cross-traffic alerts, surround-view cameras, and lane-centering adaptive cruise control are all standard. New Atlas, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for adaptive cruise control

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of adaptive cruise control was in 1988

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Adaptive cruise control.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adaptive%20cruise%20control. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!