lo·co·mo·tive
ˌlō-kə-ˈmō-tiv 
1
2
: of or relating to travel
3
: of, relating to, or being a machine that moves about by operation of its own mechanism
1
: a self-propelled vehicle that runs on rails and is used for moving railroad cars
2
: a school or college cheer characterized by a slow beginning and a progressive increase in speed
Examples of locomotive in a Sentence
Adjective
the locomotive ability of spiders
Recent Examples on the Web
Kristina Sgueglia, CNN, 8 Mar. 2023
Train crew not at fault, NTSB chair says The 149-car train operated by Norfolk Southern had three employees on board: a locomotive engineer, a conductor and a trainee who were all in the head end of the locomotive, Homendy told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Thursday.
—Nicki Brown, CNN, 25 Feb. 2023
Water drips from the undersides of the locomotive boilers, leaving muddy paths alongside the wheels.
—Mark Orwoll, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2023
Greenfield’s locomotive tribute includes eight rosettes, signifying destinations along a route.
—Cierra Black, Essence, 18 Aug. 2023
Workers have also gone on strike this summer at coffee shops, locomotive plants, bookstores, legal clinics, hotels, and a beer factory.
—Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023
On a recent afternoon in the former locomotive factory where Q-CTRL has its offices, Professor Biercuk said the next few years will be crucial.
—Damien Cave, New York Times, 28 July 2023
Dead Reckoning glances backwards to the 1996 movie that started it all, which also happened to end with a blast of locomotive action.
—Vulture, 14 July 2023
Mayer and Weir have largely split lead vocals this summer, but Weir is steering the locomotive tonight.
—Jeff Weiss, Spin, 21 Aug. 2023
The Editorial Board, WSJ, 17 Nov. 2023
Check Out the Museums Step back in time to Frisco's past at the Frisco Heritage Museum, where exhibits include pioneer items such as a log cabin, schoolhouse, old jail, a steam locomotive and caboose, Gaby's Blacksmith Shop, the Frisco Railroad Depot, historic homes, and even a windmill.
—Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2023
The film’s production designer, Jack Fisk, also built a re-creation of Fairfax’s old railroad depot and brought in a vintage locomotive.
—Todd Longwell, Variety, 31 Oct. 2023
In all, the district soon will have a total of 11 locomotives and 39 cars.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2023
The batteries also could power a range of other vehicles from railroad locomotives to motorboats, as well as heavy construction equipment.
—Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 9 June 2023
While workers at a train manufacturer Wabtec in Erie, Pennsylvania ended a two-month strike this week that included calls for greater investment in green technology for sustainable locomotives.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2023
The 611 locomotive pulls 11 passenger cars, which offer four classes of seating.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2023
In one hand, Elizabeth carried a large leather clutch in the shape of a steam locomotive.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
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Adjective
At least one locomotive and one fuel tank went into the New River, the West Virginia Emergency Management Division said.
—Kristina Sgueglia, CNN, 8 Mar. 2023
Train crew not at fault, NTSB chair says The 149-car train operated by Norfolk Southern had three employees on board: a locomotive engineer, a conductor and a trainee who were all in the head end of the locomotive, Homendy told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Thursday.
—Nicki Brown, CNN, 25 Feb. 2023
Water drips from the undersides of the locomotive boilers, leaving muddy paths alongside the wheels.
—Mark Orwoll, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2023
Greenfield’s locomotive tribute includes eight rosettes, signifying destinations along a route.
—Cierra Black, Essence, 18 Aug. 2023
Workers have also gone on strike this summer at coffee shops, locomotive plants, bookstores, legal clinics, hotels, and a beer factory.
—Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023
On a recent afternoon in the former locomotive factory where Q-CTRL has its offices, Professor Biercuk said the next few years will be crucial.
—Damien Cave, New York Times, 28 July 2023
Dead Reckoning glances backwards to the 1996 movie that started it all, which also happened to end with a blast of locomotive action.
—Vulture, 14 July 2023
Mayer and Weir have largely split lead vocals this summer, but Weir is steering the locomotive tonight.
—Jeff Weiss, Spin, 21 Aug. 2023
Noun
Diesel locomotives typically have a useful life of 40 years or more, but the regulation would bar those that are 23-years or older from running in the state after 2029.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 17 Nov. 2023
Check Out the Museums Step back in time to Frisco's past at the Frisco Heritage Museum, where exhibits include pioneer items such as a log cabin, schoolhouse, old jail, a steam locomotive and caboose, Gaby's Blacksmith Shop, the Frisco Railroad Depot, historic homes, and even a windmill.
—Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2023
The film’s production designer, Jack Fisk, also built a re-creation of Fairfax’s old railroad depot and brought in a vintage locomotive.
—Todd Longwell, Variety, 31 Oct. 2023
In all, the district soon will have a total of 11 locomotives and 39 cars.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2023
The batteries also could power a range of other vehicles from railroad locomotives to motorboats, as well as heavy construction equipment.
—Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 9 June 2023
While workers at a train manufacturer Wabtec in Erie, Pennsylvania ended a two-month strike this week that included calls for greater investment in green technology for sustainable locomotives.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2023
The 611 locomotive pulls 11 passenger cars, which offer four classes of seating.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2023
In one hand, Elizabeth carried a large leather clutch in the shape of a steam locomotive.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'locomotive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near locomotive
Cite this Entry
“Locomotive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/locomotive. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
locomotive
1 of 2 adjective
lo·co·mo·tive
ˌlō-kə-ˈmōt-iv
1
: of or relating to locomotion
2
: of, relating to, or being a locomotive
locomotive
2 of 2 noun
: an engine that moves under its own power
especially
: one that hauls cars on a railroad
Medical Definition
locomotive
adjective
lo·co·mo·tive
ˌlō-kə-ˈmōt-iv
: locomotor sense 1
locomotive organs include flagella, cilia, pseudopodia, and limbs
More from Merriam-Webster on locomotive
Nglish: Translation of locomotive for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of locomotive for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about locomotive
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