transit

1 of 2

noun

tran·​sit ˈtran(t)-sət  ˈtran-zət 

1

a(1)

: conveyance of persons or things from one place to another

(2)

: usually local transportation especially of people by public conveyance

also : vehicles or a system engaged in such transportation

b

: an act, process, or instance of passing through or over

c

: change, transition

2

a

: passage of a celestial body over the meridian of a place or through the field of a telescope

b

: passage of a smaller body (such as Venus) across the disk of a larger (such as the sun)

3

: a theodolite with the telescope mounted so that it can be transited

transit

2 of 2

verb

transited; transiting; transits

intransitive verb

: to make a transit

transitive verb

1

a

: to pass over or through

b

: to cause to pass over or through

2

: to pass across (a meridian, a celestial body, or the field of view of a telescope)

3

: to turn (a telescope) over about the horizontal transverse axis in surveying

Synonyms of transit

Verb

• cross
• traverse
• travel
• walk
• navigate
• follow

Examples of transit in a Sentence

Noun

the problems of urban transit

Verb

once you transit that stretch of dense woods, the hiking should be much easier

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Other potential measles exposure sites include major transit hubs like Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Union Station as well as the Catholic University of America and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026

While the alignment of Earth and Mars only allows for a mission every 26 months with a six-month transit, the Moon is accessible every 10 days with a mere two-day journey. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026

Verb

About 13 million barrels per day of crude oil transited the Strait of Hormuz in 2025, according to data from market intelligence firm Kpler, accounting for nearly a third of global seaborne crude flows. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026

The failure to invest either in the initial phases of the Purple Line, or to build separate infrastructure for the 688, is a blow to transit equity for commuters who will continue to have slow commutes to San Diego’s largest job centers in Kearny Mesa, UTC and Sorrento Valley. —Chris Roberts, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English transite, from Latin transitus, from transire to go across, pass

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing transit

• in transit
• mass transit
• public transit
• rapid transit
• transit camp
• transit visa

Rhymes for transit

• paratransit

Kids Definition

transit

1 of 2 noun

tran·​sit ˈtran(t)s-ət  ˈtranz- 

1

: an act, process, or example of passing through or over : passage

2

: the transporting of persons or things from one place to another

goods lost in transit

3

: local transportation of people in public vehicles

also : the vehicles or system used in such transportation

4

: a surveyor's instrument for measuring angles

transit

2 of 2 verb

: to pass or cause to pass over, through, or across

Etymology

Noun

from Latin transitus "passage, journey," from transire "to go across, pass," from trans- "across, beyond" and ire "to go" — related to issue, itinerary