1
as in wandering
to move about from place to place aimlessly
the girls happily cruised around the mall for hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
she's been cruising through her daily physical therapy with remarkable ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sailing
to travel on water in a vessel
cruised to the Bahamas in their yacht
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of cruising
As for Mitan, the yacht will now spend seven to eight months cruising south towards Mexico, calling at multiple anchorages along the way.
—
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2026
The Gears were cruising when the league declared bankruptcy and evaporated the next November.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Take a drive through South Carolina's horse country, cruising through rolling horse pastures hemmed by white farm fences, then head back downtown and refuel at The Hare & Hound Pub for hearty American fare.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Baron was known for his skillful driving on the racetrack and his love of cruising steep canyon roads.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Worse still, since losing a four-point game to Edmonton that set in motion a shift from cruising atop the division to fighting tooth and nail for seeding, the Ducks’ game seems to be drifting farther away with each passing date.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
For the first time in more than 50 years, humans are cruising through lunar space.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
While driving through San Bernardino County, the suspect was seen driving at much slower speeds than earlier, only cruising along the southbound lanes of the 15 Freeway at speeds up to 45 miles per hour.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The series takes place on a yacht, cruising the coast of Malta.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2026
The Gears were cruising when the league declared bankruptcy and evaporated the next November.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Take a drive through South Carolina's horse country, cruising through rolling horse pastures hemmed by white farm fences, then head back downtown and refuel at The Hare & Hound Pub for hearty American fare.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Baron was known for his skillful driving on the racetrack and his love of cruising steep canyon roads.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Worse still, since losing a four-point game to Edmonton that set in motion a shift from cruising atop the division to fighting tooth and nail for seeding, the Ducks’ game seems to be drifting farther away with each passing date.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
For the first time in more than 50 years, humans are cruising through lunar space.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
While driving through San Bernardino County, the suspect was seen driving at much slower speeds than earlier, only cruising along the southbound lanes of the 15 Freeway at speeds up to 45 miles per hour.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The series takes place on a yacht, cruising the coast of Malta.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cruising
Verb
-
These suede clog mules are an easy choice for everything, including early bakery runs, long travel days, and wandering through mountain towns.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The two-day search for a missing 12-year-old girl came to a surprising end when she was discovered wandering a Dollar General store, according to investigators in North Carolina.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Jackie Tohn looks elegant in a white button-down top and black flowing skirt at the Venice Family Clinic HEART Gala in Culver City, California, on April 18.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
State-level commitments in California, Maryland, and Massachusetts, along with federal apprenticeship grants, are also flowing into trades training, per JLL.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Over the course of eight and a half hours, a Northern California nurse hopped between bars during a Friday evening while sailing on a Carnival Cruise vacation.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Once tankers, carrying about 20% of the world's oil supply, start sailing through the strait again, jet fuel prices will return to normal — but not immediately.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The African Sky Safari gondola gives you a bird’s-eye view of giraffes, zebras and other animals roaming below, while also giving your feet a break.—
Taylor Haught,
Kansas City Star,
21 Apr. 2026
-
That means the destination offers elements to help visitors be in tune with nature, including a fire pit, pond and farm animals roaming nearby.—
Simone Jasper
Updated April 21,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
These handsome galoots may cheat on their spouses or worse, but this allows the women to smolder in drifting chiffon.—
Libby Gelman-Waxner,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Fillman and his diving instructor tapped into their survival instincts by dumping their heavy diving gear and tanks and tying themselves together with their remaining gear to prevent them from drifting apart.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Not to be outdone, the Tuscany Active Culinary Walking & Hiking Tour in Italy features wine sipping, a cooking class led by an engaging Italian chef, and plenty of strolling through the countryside.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
-
These days, Bailey is one of the celebrities people would be thrilled to see strolling down Hollywood Boulevard.—
Kailyn Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
How Wisconsin got here Wisconsin keeps on gliding.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2026
-
With more than 200 million tons of cargo gliding across their surfaces every year, Neal writes, the Great Lakes are a place of commerce.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Los Angeles reservoir that was notoriously empty during the 2025 Palisades fire has been drained once again as crews replace its floating cover, to the dismay of area residents who worry that there won’t be water available to fight wildfires.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The biopic has got other, far more pressing concerns on its mind, like the multitude of dollar signs floating before its eyes.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cruising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cruising. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
