road trip: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2informal, conversational
Quick answer
What does “road trip” mean?
A journey undertaken for leisure in a car, van, or motorcycle, often over a significant distance and lasting more than a day, emphasising the experience of travel and adventure.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A journey undertaken for leisure in a car, van, or motorcycle, often over a significant distance and lasting more than a day, emphasising the experience of travel and adventure.
Any long journey, especially one with multiple stops or a spontaneous, adventurous spirit. Can be used metaphorically to describe a period of exploration, discovery, or a challenging process.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both varieties, but it is more culturally embedded and frequent in American English, reflecting the size of the country and car culture. British speakers are equally familiar with it.
Connotations
In AmE, it evokes classic American imagery (e.g., Route 66, cross-country travel). In BrE, it may imply a shorter, often European continental journey due to geography, but the core concept is identical.
Frequency
High frequency in AmE, medium-high in BrE. The verb form 'to road-trip' is more prevalent in AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “road trip” in a Sentence
[Subject] + go on/take + a road trip + [to/around/across + Location]We + are planning + a road trip + to Scotland.[Subject] + road-trip + [prepositional phrase] (verb form, chiefly AmE)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “road trip” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We're thinking of road-tripping through France next summer.
- They road-tripped all the way to John O'Groats.
American English
- Let's road-trip down to Florida for spring break!
- We road-tripped across the entire country last year.
adjective
British English
- He has a detailed road-trip playlist.
- Their road-trip snacks were all healthy.
American English
- We packed the car with road-trip essentials.
- She's the ultimate road-trip partner.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'Our sales team is on a road trip across the Midwest.'
Academic
Very rare, except in cultural or tourism studies.
Everyday
Very common for discussing holiday plans and travel experiences.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “road trip”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “road trip”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “road trip”
- Using 'road trip' for a short, mundane drive to the shops. *'I took a quick road trip to the supermarket.' (Incorrect)
- Using it for non-pleasure travel. *'The delivery driver's road trip was very tiring.' (Incorrect - it's just his route/job.)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, no. A road trip implies a journey of at least one overnight stay. A long day trip is usually just called a 'day trip' or a 'long drive'.
It is standardly written as two separate words: 'road trip'. The hyphenated form 'road-trip' is used when it functions as a verb or a compound adjective (e.g., a road-trip adventure).
Yes, absolutely. The key element is the leisurely journey by road, not the specific vehicle. Journeys by car, van, camper, or motorbike can all be called road trips.
A 'road trip' emphasises informality, self-direction, and the experience of the journey itself. A 'tour' often implies a more organised itinerary, possibly with a guide, and focuses more on the destinations than the travel between them.
A journey undertaken for leisure in a car, van, or motorcycle, often over a significant distance and lasting more than a day, emphasising the experience of travel and adventure.
Road trip is usually informal, conversational in register.
Road trip: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrəʊd ˌtrɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈroʊd ˌtrɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hit the road (to start a trip)”
- “On the road again”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the open ROAD and the idea of a TRIP (journey). Combined, they create an image of a long, enjoyable journey by road.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / A PROJECT OR ADVENTURE IS A ROAD TRIP (e.g., 'Starting this business has been a real road trip.')
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario BEST describes a 'road trip'?