commute travel meaning

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Definition of commute

 (Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

intransitive verb

Definition of commute  (Entry 2 of 2)

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When you commute between a suburb and a city, you're "exchanging" one location for another. When a chief executive substitutes a life sentence for the death sentence handed down by a court, he or she is commuting the original sentence. Most such commutations are the result of the prisoner's good behavior. A commutator is a device in many electric motors that regularly changes alternating current to direct current.

Examples of commute in a Sentence

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

Word History

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Latin commutare to change, exchange, from com- + mutare to change — more at mutable

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

1954, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Dictionary entries near commute.

commuted value

Cite this Entry

“Commute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commute. Accessed 15 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of commute.

Kids Definition of commute  (Entry 2 of 2)

Legal Definition

Legal definition of commute, more from merriam-webster on commute.

Nglish: Translation of commute for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of commute for Arabic Speakers

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Definition of commute noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

• trip an act of traveling from one place to another, and usually back again: a business trip a five-minute trip by taxi
• journey an act of traveling from one place to another, especially when they are far apart: a long and difficult journey across the mountains
• A trip usually involves you going to a place and back again; a journey is usually one-way. A trip is often shorter than a journey , although it does not have to be: a trip to New York a round-the-world trip. It is often short in time, even if it is long in distance. Journey is more often used when the traveling takes a long time and is difficult.
• tour a journey made for pleasure during which several different places are visited: a tour of California
• commute the regular trip that a person makes when they travel to work and back home again: a two-hour commute into downtown Washington
• expedition an organized journey with a particular purpose, especially to find out about a place that is not well known: the first expedition to the South Pole
• excursion a short trip made for pleasure, especially one that has been organized for a group of people: We went on an all-day excursion to the island.
• outing a short trip made for pleasure or education, usually with a group of people and lasting no more than a day: My project team organized an afternoon outing to celebrate.
• an overseas trip/journey/tour/expedition
• a bus/train trip/journey/tour
• to go on a(n) trip/journey/tour/expedition/excursion/outing
• to set out/off on a(n) trip/journey/tour/expedition/excursion
• to take a(n) trip/journey/expedition/excursion

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Travel vs. Commute — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Travel and Commute

Table of contents, key differences, comparison chart, compare with definitions, common curiosities, can travel be a short distance, what is the main purpose of travel, is commute a type of travel, why do people travel, how can one make their commute more productive, how has technology influenced travel, what is the typical duration of a commute, which requires more planning, travel or commute, is travel always recreational, is commuting always by car, what is a long commute considered, what are common modes of travel, can commute be enjoyable, can travel be virtual, does commute always refer to traveling, share your discovery.

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Definition of 'commute'

commute in American English

Commute in british english, commute in insurance, examples of 'commute' in a sentence commute, related word partners commute, trends of commute.

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• morning commute

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[ k uh - myoot ]

verb (used with object)

The death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.

• to exchange for another or for something else; give and take reciprocally; interchange .

to commute base metal into gold.

• to change (one kind of payment) into or for another, as by substitution.

verb (used without object)

He commutes to work by train.

• to make substitution.
• to serve as a substitute.
• to make a collective payment, especially of a reduced amount, as an equivalent for a number of payments.
• Mathematics. to give the same result whether operating on the left or on the right.

It's a long commute from his home to his office.

• an act or instance of commuting.

/ kəˈmjuːt /

• intr to travel some distance regularly between one's home and one's place of work
• tr to substitute; exchange
• tr law to reduce (a sentence) to one less severe
• to pay (an annuity) at one time, esp with a discount, instead of in instalments

to commute base metal into gold

• intr to act as or be a substitute
• intr to make a substitution; change
• a journey made by commuting

/ kə-myo̅o̅t ′ /

• To yield the same result regardless of order. For example, numbers commute under addition, which is a commutative operation. Generally, any two operators H and G commute if their commutator is zero, i.e. HG − GH = 0.

Discover More

Derived forms.

• comˈmutable , adjective
• comˌmutaˈbility , noun

Other Words From

• uncom·muted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of commute 1

Example Sentences

There’s no commute, there’s no lunchtime or after work drinks.

These are issued when questionable weather overlaps with the commute but is not quite enough for an advisory.

For a cold commute, the best winter gloves will allow you to use touch screen technology without going barehanded.

At one point, before her hour-long commute, she reportedly mentioned that her hands were cold.

As workers return to offices, they may still feel most comfortable with socially distant commutes rather than public transit.

The rapid rise of the sharing economy is changing the way people around the world commute, shop, vacation, and borrow.

A tense commute to work in Houston will start to resemble a tense commute in Boston or New York City.

It meant a serious commute, and a few quibbles from the locals about jumping to a rival, but Malania put in the hours.

Stephanie lives in the Bronx and works in Manhattan, a commute that should take 45 minutes.

He will spend the rest of his commute sedentary, and she upright.

McAllen didn't look in the least like a man who could afford nowadays to commute by air between the Mediterranean and California.

His voice was for the gallows,—but, in consideration of the criminal's rank, he would consent to commute the cord for the axe.

When a man wanted to commute then he paid a monthly fee to the railroad and they printed his name on this official list.

Did you commute back and forth from your sister's home in Irving?

I've got enough money to commute, when the time comes, and I'll feel a lot better if I go through with it now I've started.

Related Words

What is a commuter?

A commuter is a person who travels between home and work on a regular basis. Suburban residents who use public or private transport to reach workplaces in the city are commuters.

According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary , the word comes from a meaning of “commute” that denotes regular back and forth travel.

The term also operates as an adjective. For instance, a commuter train is a train that mainly carries commuters. Commuter traffic refers to road vehicles containing people going to and from work.

A small airline that carries passengers for short trips is also a commuter. However, this article focuses on people who travel between home and work.

Original meaning

The term commuter comes from another meaning of commute that signifies to lessen the severity of a penalty.

A 2007 The New Yorker article on commuting suggests that people began to use the word in the United States in the mid-1800s.

At that time, Americans started describing railway users who journeyed from homes in the new suburbs to work in cities as commuters. Those cities included Boston, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia.

Because the journeys were frequent and regular, the railway companies commuted the fares. In other words, they offered them at a discount.

Commuters and urbanization

Historians and scientists who study cities suggest that commuting is a key factor in urbanization.

In the mid-1990s, Italian physicist Cesare Marchetti proposed that workers are willing to commute for around 0.5 hours to work.

“Personal travel,” wrote Marchetti , “appears to be more under the control of basic instincts than of economic drives.”

Since then, urban planning students, such as Jonathan English, have referred to the 0.5 hours as Marchetti Constant.

In his 2019 article for Bloomberg Media magazine CityLab, English explains how the principle that Marchetti describes has influenced urban development.

“From ancient Rome to modern Atlanta,” he notes, “the shape of cities has been defined by the technologies that allow commuters to get to work in about 30 minutes.”

For many people, however, a 30-minute commute is no more than a distant dream. In Beijing, China, for instance, hundreds of thousands of white collar workers commute for an average of 6 hours a day .

Commuter journeys change people

Spending so much of daily life commuting alters people. This idea comes from David Bissell, associate professor in the School of Geography at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

“[R]ather than passively transporting us, commuting journeys and transport systems are actively changing us,” he writes in a 2018 article on the World Economic Forum website.

“All the encounters we experience on our commutes,” Bissell remarks, “all the travelling environments we move through, impress on us and leave their mark.”

Bissell offers an alternative view to that which sees commuter travel as dead time. Instead, he suggests that it is transformative. He argues that commuting is neither negative nor positive, but “fundamentally indeterminate.”

“Commuting can tire, deplete and cost, but it can also enliven, excite and energize,” he concludes.

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U.S. Sen. Tim Scott delivers Commencement keynote address at Liberty University

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May 10, 2024 : By Christian Shields - Office of Communications & Public Engagement

Providing the keynote address for the Liberty University 2024 Commencement during Friday night’s Main Ceremony in William Stadium, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott urged graduates to live lives of boldness and fully commit to serving God.

This year’s Commencement honored over 29,000 Liberty graduates in the Class of 2024. In addition to the Main Commencement Ceremony, Liberty held 28 separate degree ceremonies on campus Thursday through Saturday. Friday’s ceremony also included messages from former Secretary of State and Distinguished Chair of the Helms School of Government Mike Pompeo and Liberty President Dondi Costin. Duck Commander CEO and the parent of a Liberty graduate Willie Robertson offered the closing prayer.

Following a time of worship, Liberty Chancellor Jonathan Falwell provided a brief invocation, noting that his two daughters graduated with their master’s degrees this year.

“Liberty University has always been a place, since 1971, where we Train Champions for Christ ,” he said. “And now, while we’ve been doing that for 53 years, it’s exciting to see and exciting to know that we have not stopped nor will we ever stop doing that singular thing of training up young champions who will go into a world that desperately needs to see, hear, and know what light looks like. That light flows from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Thank you, students, for what you are about to do as you leave this place and go change the world.”

Falwell next introduced Pompeo, who shared about the importance of service, noting the role that Liberty has played in supporting students serving in the military. Over 2,000 members of the Class of 2024 are active duty service members; more than 6,000 have military ties.

“Liberty and faith are sacred things,” Pompeo said. “They are worthy of being defended.  Throughout 250 years of American history, our nation has always depended on the willingness of incredible men and women, and their families to sacrifice for it, to fight for it, and even to give their lives for it. The history of Americans serving this country and its freedoms is noble and decent. And it is a tradition that continues today. And this university is a big part of it.”

President Costin encouraged the students to remain Champions for Christ as they leave the university and go out into their respective careers. He noted that Christians are often asked to overcome tremendous hardships in life but willingly do so knowing that God is always with them.

“It’s your turn to make a difference in the places God has called — and will call — you to serve. It’s your turn to show the world the difference Jesus Christ makes in a society doing its best to run away from God,” he said. “It’s your turn to demonstrate that everything the Bible says about how to flourish as a human made in God’s image is now and always has been the best way to live. It’s your turn to put your faith into action as a Champion for Christ .”

He highlighted specific examples of Liberty graduates who have overcome tremendous struggles to complete their college degrees and noted that God will give the Class of 2024 what they need to be themselves successful in whatever they set their minds to. He also shared many of the achievements and milestones Liberty celebrated this year in academics and athletics and praised students for their service to others and for standing up for the unborn and for the nation of Israel.

“You have been made to live your life for the good of others and the glory of God. There is no greater sense of meaning and purpose than that,” he said. “The world will try to tell you to consider that degree you’ve earned as a license to run after possessions, power, position, and popularity at all costs. It’s a lie. Don’t fall for it. Champions for Christ live differently because they live for eternity. They are more interested in giving than getting. They are more invested in laying up for themselves treasures in heaven than treasures here on earth. They understand that their life began at conception, but the resurrection of Jesus Christ is proof positive that their life never ends.”

Costin next introduced Scott, noting that the two-term senator has been a Champion for Christ through his business and political careers. Joined on stage by Chancellor Falwell and Chief Academic Officer and Provost Dr. Scott Hicks, Costin presented Sen. Scott with an honorary Doctor of Humanities.

A native of North Charleston, S.C., Senator Scott has served his home state in the U.S. Senate since 2013. Having grown up mired in poverty in a single-parent household, he has worked as a tireless advocate creating more opportunities for families living paycheck-to-paycheck and helping children in poverty have access to quality education. He launched his Opportunity Agenda, a legislative package aimed at achieving these goals, as well as the Senate Opportunity Coalition, a group of Senators committed to helping those in need. He is a member of Seacoast Church of Charleston.

Scott opened his remarks by praising God for His continued faithfulness in ensuring that each graduate in attendance made it to graduation.

“I believe there are a lot of graduates sitting here today with tears rolling in their eyes and a heart of gratitude because if we all knew what God had to do to get you to your seats, we would all stand up and give you a standing ovation,” he said. “I thank God Almighty we live in a country where we are free to praise the living God, the One and the True God.”

Scott gave students three “pieces of the puzzle” for life, with advice that he would like to have if he himself was a recent college graduate. First, he noted that “failure isn’t fatal if you don’t quit.” Sharing from his own experience as a child growing up in poverty, he said that he learned from an early age the importance of having a “victorious” mindset instead of a victim mindset.

He next argued that “if you want to stand out in life, stand up for those who can’t stand for themselves,” highlighting specifically those in the Jewish community who are facing increased levels of antisemitism in the United States as well as others battling poverty or other types of adversity.

“If you want to stand out in life, stand up for those who cannot stand for themselves. I can’t think of a better time for the body of Christ to stand for our Jewish brothers and sisters in the United States of America on college campuses. I’m sick and tired of seeing antisemitism on college campuses spread like a cancer. I think it’s high time we tell the colleges and universities that allow for Jewish genocide to be spoken and the call for mass murder: to those colleges and universities, your federal funding is a privilege; it is not a right. What is a right is for every single Jewish student to walk to their class safely. What is a right is for every Jewish student to study in the library at peace. We should take the money from those universities and colleges that continue to spew hate and give it to a God-fearing place called Liberty University.”

“Someone somewhere might need your big dream and your test of faith to deliver them from their circumstances,” Scott said.

Hicks then conferred the degrees, assuring the graduates that God will guide them in their quest to praise Him.

Robertson closed the festivities with the benediction, before the celebration concluded with a fireworks display set to music orchestrated by Liberty music students.

“I loved all the speakers, the message, and the fireworks,” said graduate Peyton Weist, from Emerald Island, N.C., who received his B.S. in Aeronautics: Commercial/Corporate . “I loved it. It was very inspirational. I’d love to do it again. It was amazing. I’m really glad I came here. I work as a flight instructor here right now and I’ve loved my time here. It’s been very enjoyable, great people, great place to be.”

“It’s been amazing,” said Pamela Knight, from Houston, who completed her B.S. in  Bible — Christian Counseling  through Liberty University Online Programs  over the past six years and spent the entire week in Lynchburg, Va., leading up to Commencement Weekend. “It’s a very good environment. The ceremony was very organized, and I loved the fireworks, and the mountains.”

She said she was encouraged by her visit to complete her master’s degree next, in counseling or human services.

“Helping people is one of my passions, and I already had that determination to pursue my master’s, but I now have confirmation from God to keep going. I’m praying that God will lead me in that direction.”

Related Posts

Preparations underway for Liberty University’s 51st Commencement

New Champion Center will display Liberty’s Christian mission, provide prime event, meeting space

Liberty University Board of Trustees shares in the student experience during campus visit

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Meaning of commuter in English

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• daily passenger
• day-tripper
• grief tourist
• super-commuter

commuter | Business English

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Word of the Day

customer support

help and advice that a company makes available to customers when they have bought something

Searching out and tracking down: talking about finding or discovering things

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