journey

noun

jour·ney | \ ˈjər-nē

plural journeys

Definition of journey

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

verb

journeyed; journeying

Definition of journey (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to go on a journey : travel

transitive verb

: to travel over or through

Other Words from journey Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about journey

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for journey

Noun

journey, trip, and tour mean travel from one place to another. journey usually means traveling a long distance and often in dangerous or difficult circumstances. They made the long journey across the desert. trip can be used when the traveling is brief, swift, or ordinary. We took our weekly trip to the store. tour is used for a journey with several stops that ends at the place where it began. Sightseers took a tour of the city.

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.

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

So please sit back and relax, and take solace in this journey into the familiar territory of England dropping out of a major tournament. — SI.com, "England: Who Is to Blame?," 12 July 2018 For parts of the nine-hour journey out of the cave the boys have worn scuba gear, swimming through murky water. — Bo Emerson, ajc, "Cave rescuers in Southeast watch their Thai colleagues with admiration," 10 July 2018 The wines alone are worth the journey, as is food such as carpaccio served with the black truffles that are found on the Salcheto estate. — Robert Joseph, A-LIST, "Hired It Through The Grapevine," 2 July 2018 My great-grandfather on my mom’s side was born in Italy and made a dangerous journey across the Atlantic to start a new life. — Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Marie Claire, "Separating Families at the Border Is Just One Way Trump is Trying to Tear Apart Immigrant Families," 25 June 2018 Likewise, in 2015 European governments argued that rescuing boats carrying migrants from north Africa merely encouraged more to risk that journey. — The Economist, "How the West’s immigration policies clash with values," 21 June 2018 The perils that befall them along the way are at times almost too much to bear, but the cruelty of this journey is checked at every step by the bracing force of Haigh’s compassion. — Justin Chang, latimes.com, "Critic's Choice: Andrew Haigh's 'Lean on Pete' is a piercingly sad coming-of-age tale," 12 July 2018 Thank you @sislovespurple for being on this journey with me. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, "Mary J. Blige Launches 'Sister Love' Jewelry Collaboration," 10 July 2018 This journey is rooted in the fundamental belief that economic inclusion is our human right. — Essence.com, "ESSENCE’s Richelieu Dennis and Queen Latifah Announce Exciting New Partnership For Black Creators," 7 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Any diver journeying into the cave would face 6 hours of swimming against the current through narrow passages, not to mention flash floods courtesy of Thailand's rainy season. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "All 12 Thai Boys Rescued From Cave," 10 July 2018 Along with two Indian youths, the two adventurers journeyed beyond the Snake River, where Adams set out to capture young grizzlies. — Gary Kamiya, SFChronicle.com, "The original Grizzly Adams kept his bears on a chain in SF," 7 July 2018 Hours before the Fourth of July parade began in D.C., a family who had journeyed 14 hours from Wisconsin filed down to Constitution Avenue to get the best seats. — Reis Thebault, Washington Post, "Fourth of July celebrations more meaningful, worrisome for some Americans," 4 July 2018 The armies of Chinese shoppers who journey abroad have been vital too. — Jacky Wong, WSJ, "Beauty Stocks’ Rise Is Looking Increasingly Cosmetic," 21 June 2018 The pair departed for the day of engagements on Wednesday evening, journeying north on board the royal train. — Lauren Said-moorhouse, CNN, "Meghan Markle joins the Queen for joint royal outing," 14 June 2018 The Twilight star plays Samuel Alabaster, a pioneer who journeys across the country to be with Wasikowska’s Penelope. — Ale Russian, PEOPLE.com, "Robert Pattinson Is Unrecognizable with Fake Teeth and a Southern Accent in Scene from Damsel," 12 June 2018 Soon to be on Netflix on May 29, Coco is a heartwarming story of a boy with a dream to be a musician who journeys into the Land of the Dead. — Brianna Wiest, Teen Vogue, "What Movies to Watch on Netflix, According to Your Zodiac Sign," 24 May 2018 The show was further refined, journeyed to Broadway and London, toured nationally, got produced regionally and became a multimillion-dollar jukebox musical success. — Christine Dolen, miamiherald, "'Million Dollar Quartet:' Whole lotta great music-makin' going on | Miami Herald," 14 May 2018

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

History and Etymology for journey

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French jurnee day, day's journey, from jur day, from Late Latin diurnum, from Latin, neuter of diurnus — see journal

Verb

see journey entry 1

Keep scrolling for more