traverse

1 of 3

verb

tra·​verse trə-ˈvərs 

 also  tra-ˈvərs,

or

ˈtra-(ˌ)vərs 

traversed; traversing

transitive verb

1

a

: to go or travel across or over

b

: to move or pass along or through

light rays traversing a crystal

2

: to make a study of : examine

3

: to lie or extend across : cross

the bridge traverses a brook

4

a

: to move to and fro over or along

b

: to ascend, descend, or cross (a slope or gap) at an angle

c

: to move (a gun) to right or left on a pivot

5

a

: to go against or act in opposition to : oppose, thwart

b

: to deny (something, such as an allegation of fact or an indictment) formally at law

6

: to make or carry out a survey of by using traverses

intransitive verb

1

: to move back and forth or from side to side

2

: to move or turn laterally : swivel

3

a

: to climb at an angle or in a zigzag course

b

: to ski across rather than straight down a hill

4

: to make a survey by using traverses

traversable

trə-ˈvər-sə-bəl 

 also  tra-ˈvər-

 or  ˈtra-(ˌ)vər-

adjective

traverser noun

traverse

2 of 3

noun

tra·​verse ˈtra-vərs 

 also  -ˌvərs,

especially for senses 6 and 8 also

trə-ˈvərs 

 or  tra-ˈvərs

1

: something that crosses or lies across

2

: obstacle, adversity

3

: a formal denial of a matter of fact alleged by the opposing party in a legal pleading

4

a

: a compartment or recess formed by a partition, curtain, or screen

b

: a gallery or loft providing access from one side to another in a large building

5

: a route or way across or over: such as

a

: a zigzag course of a sailing ship with contrary winds

b

: a curving or zigzag way up a steep grade

c

: the course followed in traversing

6

: the act or an instance of traversing : crossing

7

: a protective projecting wall or bank of earth in a trench

8

a

: a lateral movement (as of the saddle of a lathe carriage)

also : a device for imparting such movement

b

: the lateral movement of a gun about a pivot or on a carriage to change direction of fire

9

: a line surveyed across a plot of ground

traverse

3 of 3

adjective

tra·​verse ˈtra-(ˌ)vərs  trə-ˈvərs 

tra-ˈvərs

: lying across : transverse

Synonyms

Verb

• course
• cover
• cross
• cut (across)
• follow
• go
• navigate
• pass (over)
• perambulate
• peregrinate
• proceed (along)
• track
• transit
• travel

Examples of traverse in a Sentence

Verb

The candidates traversed the state throughout the campaign.

The river traverses the county.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Weekends can get crowded, but weekdays are quieter, meaning the short, steep hikes to various overlooks—including Old Baldy (the park's most notable hill) will be less traversed. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2025

Hundreds, if not thousands, of insect species most likely migrate, including dragonflies that cross the Indian Ocean, moths that traverse Australia and plant hoppers that windsurf through East Asia. —Jesse Greenspan, Scientific American, 13 Apr. 2025

Noun

Additionally, 46 percent of the total containers moving from northeast Asia to the U.S. East Coast traverse through the canal, the Commerce Department says. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019

About 4% of the world’s maritime trade and more than 40% of US container traffic traverses canal. —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025

Adjective

There’s also the challenge of power and energy: The robots need to be quick and energy-efficient to meet the endurance requirements and traverse multiple kilometers per hour in extreme environments. —Edward Terry, IEEE Spectrum, 16 Nov. 2020

The roots of via ferratas come from World War I, when climbing routes were strategically created by the Italian army as a way to evade attacks and traverse jagged peaks in the Dolomite Mountains. —Kathleen Rellihan, Outside Online, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French traverser, from Late Latin transversare, from Latin transversus

Noun

Middle English travers, from Anglo-French travers (as in a travers, de travers across), from Latin transversum (as in in transversum set crosswise), neuter of transversus lying across; senses 5–9 in part from traverse entry 1 — more at transverse entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 5a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing traverse

• traverse jury
• traverse rod

Kids Definition

traverse

1 of 3 noun

trav·​erse

ˈtra-vərs

1

: something that crosses or lies across

2

: a curved or zigzag path along the face of a steep slope

3

: the act or an instance of traversing

stopped to rest in their traverse of the mountain

traverse

2 of 3 verb

tra·​verse trə-ˈvərs 

traversed; traversing

1

: to go against : oppose

2

a

: to pass through, across, or over

traversed the historic fields

b

: to lie or extend across

a bridge traverses the river

3

: to make a study of : examine

4

: to move back and forth or from side to side

pedestrians traversing the busy intersection

5

: to climb or ski at an angle or in a zigzag course

traverse

3 of 3 adjective

trav·​erse

ˈtra-(ˌ)vərs,

trə-ˈvərs

: lying across : transverse

Legal Definition

traverse

1 of 2 noun

tra·​verse ˈtra-ˌvərs, trə-ˈvərs 

: a denial of a matter of fact alleged in the opposing party's pleadings

also : a pleading in which such a denial is made

traverse

2 of 2 transitive verb

tra·​verse trə-ˈvərs, ˈtra-ˌvərs 

: to deny (as an allegation of fact or an indictment) in a legal proceeding

Etymology

Transitive verb

Anglo-French traverser, literally, to lay across, bar, impede, from Old French, from Late Latin transversare to cross, from Latin transversus lying across