journey meaning in english dictionary

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[ jur -nee ]

a six-day journey across the desert.

Synonyms: tour , jaunt , excursion

a desert journey.

a week's journey.

the journey to success.

verb (used without object)

Synonyms: peregrinate , rove , roam

/ ˈdʒɜːnɪ /

• a travelling from one place to another; trip or voyage
• the distance travelled in a journey
• the time taken to make a journey
• intr to make a journey

Discover More

Derived forms.

• ˈjourneyer , noun

Other Words From

• journey·er noun
• outjourney verb (used with object) outjourneyed outjourneying

Word History and Origins

Origin of journey 1

Synonym Study

Example sentences.

If either is selected, it would not launch until 2026 at the earliest, and would take at least a few months to make the journey.

The job is a cherry on top, but the journey and the experience of being able to audition and leave your heart in the room and feel good about it, no matter what happens, that’s rare and that was amazing.

Cross-device measurement helps connect the dots of your customer’s journey and ensures you know how effective your campaigns are at driving user behavior.

You are somewhat of a new grandmother and you’ve been enjoying that journey.

Instead of having numerous articles addressing each of these particular questions, brands and publishers could consolidate this information as it is all pertinent to the same stage of the journey that the user is in.

The brokers then scout out potential “crew members” who can earn substantial discounts for working the journey.

The next day, after driving to Putney on the outskirts of London, we start the end of our journey.

The NYPD Emerald Society pipes and drums struck up a slow march and the procession began the journey to the cemetery.

We began a journey with Koenig in the first episode of Serial.

But the sunlight is threatening to fade and a three-and-a-half-hour river journey back to Kisangani looms.

With a hammer the boy knocked off some of the slats of the small box in which Squinty had made his journey.

Then summoning a smart young jemadar with whom he had talked a good deal during the journey, he asked him to read the chit.

But dismissing them from our thoughts for the time being, as we did then from our presence, let us continue our journey.

If the journey is now distasteful to her, she has but her own rashness to blame in having sought it herself.

It was past sundown when they left San Bernardino, but a full moon made the night as good as day for their journey.

Related Words

• exploration

What Is The Plural Of Journey?

Plural word for  journey.

The plural form of journey is journeys (not journies ). Words that end with a – y preceded by a vowel ( a, e, i, o, u ) are made plural by adding an -s at the end, as in chimney / chimneys and monkey / monkeys . 

This can be confusing, because the plural form of words that end with a – y and are preceded by a consonant is made by changing the ending to -ies , as in party / parties , candy / candies , and duty / duties .

More About Journey

What does  journey mean.

A journey is a trip, especially one to a faraway place that takes place over a long period of time.

The word trip can refer to any instance of traveling from one place to another, no matter how long or short it is. The word journey , though, typically implies a long trip—one that’s at least several hours, and perhaps several months or even years. It also often implies adventure—a journey might even be a quest . A journey may or may not have a planned destination other than whatever lies ahead.

The word is also commonly used in a figurative way to liken any lengthy process or progress to such a trip, as in Life is a journey, with many interesting detours. 

Journey can also be used as a verb meaning to make a long trip, as in We must journey to the land beyond the mountains.

Example: My favorite books are about people who make epic journeys around the world.

Where does  journey come from?

The first records of the word journey come from around the 1200s. It comes from the Middle English word journee , meaning “day,” ultimately from unattested Vulgar Latin diurnāta , meaning “a day’s time” or “a day’s work.” In English, the meaning of the word journey originally meant something like “a day’s travel,” but eventually came to mean “a long trip.”

A journey can last a day but the word usually refers to longer trips. The word is sometimes preceded with the mode of transportation that’s used, as in The city is reachable only by a long train journey. Discussion of journeys often involves their destination or purpose. When people say, “It’s the journey , not the destination,” they mean that the significance and value of a journey is what happens along the way, from moment to moment, as opposed to the achievement of its ultimate goal.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to journey ?

• journeyer (noun)
• outjourney (verb)

What are some synonyms for journey ?

What are some words that share a root or word element with journey ? 

What are some words that often get used in discussing journey ?

• destination

How is  journey used in real life?

Journey is very commonly used in a figurative way.

I ask you to accompany me on my journey to Chile and Peru in your prayers. — Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 15, 2018

Life is indeed a journey. Successful is he who can navigate the ups and downs without losing his balance. Don’t dwell on your past, don’t wallow in self-pity, don’t repeat your mistakes, don’t focus on negativity, help others along the way, spread kindness wherever you go! — Mufti Menk (@muftimenk) August 17, 2020

Some people around us will not understand our journey. They don’t need to; it’s not for them — Paulo Coelho (@paulocoelho) May 4, 2019

Try using  journey !

Which of the following words is a synonym of journey ?

A. voyage B. trip C. trek D. all of the above

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Pronunciation of 'journey'.

Definitions of 'journey'

English usage, conjugations of 'journey', synonyms of 'journey', collocations with 'journey', examples of 'journey'  in a sentence, translations of 'journey', 'journey' in other languages.

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journey noun

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What does the noun journey mean?

There are 24 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun journey , 13 of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

journey has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

How common is the noun journey ?

How is the noun journey pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun journey come from.

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the noun journey is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

journey is a borrowing from French.

Etymons: French jornee , journee .

Nearby entries

• journalism, n. 1833–
• journalist, n. 1693–
• journalistic, adj. & n. 1829–
• journalistically, adv. 1870–
• journalizable, adj. 1858–
• journalize, v. 1766–
• journalizer, n. 1837–
• journal-letter, n. 1756–
• journally, adv. 1554–92
• journ-chopper, n. 1883–
• journey, n. ?c1225–
• journey, v. c1330–
• journey-bated, adj. 1598
• journey-book, n. 1610–
• journey cake, n. 1754–
• journeyed, adj. 1553–
• journeyer, n. 1566–
• journeying, n. c1330–
• journeyman, n. 1463–
• journey-money, n. 1883–
• journey-pride, n. 1938–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for journey, n..

journey, n. was first published in 1901; not yet revised.

journey, n. was last modified in December 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

• corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into journey, n. in December 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1901)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View journey, n. in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for journey, n., browse entry.

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CULTURE & TRAVEL

What is the meaning of "journey", derivatives, word origin, user journey.

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• journalistic
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Definition of voyage

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of voyage  (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

transitive verb

• peregrinate

Examples of voyage in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'voyage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English viage, veyage , from Anglo-French veiage , from Late Latin viaticum , from Latin, traveling money, from neuter of viaticus of a journey, from via way — more at way

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing voyage

Dictionary entries near voyage.

vox populi vox Dei

voyage charter party

Cite this Entry

“Voyage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voyage. Accessed 8 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of voyage.

Kids Definition of voyage  (Entry 2 of 2)

More from Merriam-Webster on voyage

Nglish: Translation of voyage for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of voyage for Arabic Speakers

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Definition of journey verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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