cruising speed
noun
: the speed at which an airplane, a boat, etc., usually moves when it is traveling at a fast speed for a long distance
The boat has a cruising speed of 25 knots.
The boat handled well at cruising speed.
Examples of cruising speed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At cruising speed, the cabin measured just 63-64 dB in Stockholm commissioning trials, well below the 65-75 dB passengers typically experience on a modern ferry.
—
Omar Kardoudi
april 09, New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2026
Volvo recommended a cruising speed of 37 mph, considerably faster than the horse-and-cart alternative.
—Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
In terms of performance, the concept is envisioned with a cruising speed of approximately 16 knots and a maximum speed of over 20 knots, which NAR says aligns with the expectations for this size and type of vessel.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2026
That’s an especially tall order because Forever Young has such a high cruising speed and on top of that, his smoking-hot big last-furlong runs have consistently bested the very, very best.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2026
The drone has a cruising speed of 68 mph (110 km/h).
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 19 Jan. 2026
The cruising speed for commercial airplanes is usually around 453 knots, or 521 miles per hour, and the average cruising speed for a helicopter is around 140 knots, or 161 miles per hour.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
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.
Omar Kardoudi
april 09, New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2026
Volvo recommended a cruising speed of 37 mph, considerably faster than the horse-and-cart alternative.
—Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
In terms of performance, the concept is envisioned with a cruising speed of approximately 16 knots and a maximum speed of over 20 knots, which NAR says aligns with the expectations for this size and type of vessel.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2026
That’s an especially tall order because Forever Young has such a high cruising speed and on top of that, his smoking-hot big last-furlong runs have consistently bested the very, very best.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2026
The drone has a cruising speed of 68 mph (110 km/h).
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 19 Jan. 2026
The cruising speed for commercial airplanes is usually around 453 knots, or 521 miles per hour, and the average cruising speed for a helicopter is around 140 knots, or 161 miles per hour.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cruising speed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cruising%20speed. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
