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

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Our Prestige model offered an array of additional options such as 19-inch wheels, run-flat tires, adaptive cruise control, Bang and Olufsen sound system, OLED taillights, head-up display, LED headlights and panoramic sunroof all for an $8,400 increase. Marc D. Grasso, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025 Rather than attempting to prevent accidents (which is increasingly the role of in-car systems like lane assist and adaptive cruise control), VUEROID focuses on post-incident clarity. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025 The bike's onboard radars already supported adaptive cruise control and blind spot warnings. Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2025 As most people who have used adaptive cruise control know, if your following distance is too large, other drivers will often cut in, causing you to decelerate. Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 16 Sep. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Adaptive cruise control.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adaptive%20cruise%20control. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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