rapid transit

noun

: fast passenger transportation (as by subway) in urban areas

Examples of rapid transit in a Sentence

We'll use rapid transit to get from the airport to the hotel.
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 32,000-square-foot building also offers direct access to Metro Transit, including the new Gold Line bus rapid transit route, and was created with sustainable and accessible design elements, like the fire-resistant wood. Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 27 Aug. 2025 That’s roughly 115% higher ridership than was projected for bus-rapid transit along I-84, and roughly 65% higher ridership than for Fairview/Franklin — the two other top-performing routes. Idaho Statesman, 22 Aug. 2025 To attract more riders, IndyGo is betting big on three bus rapid transit routes — the Red, Purple and Blue lines — that offer more frequent, faster service along the city's most densely populated corridors. Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 21 Aug. 2025 Meanwhile, a quarter-mile south of the maintenance shop, America’s third-busiest passenger hub, 30th Street Station, is receiving a generational overhaul with a new food court, exterior plaza, shops and underground access to rapid transit. David Alff, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rapid transit

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rapid transit was in 1873

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rapid transit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rapid%20transit. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

rapid transit

noun
: fast public passenger transportation (as by subway) in cities

More from Merriam-Webster on rapid transit

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!