transit

1 of 2

noun

1
a(1)
: conveyance of persons or things from one place to another
(2)
: usually local transportation especially of people by public conveyance
also : vehicles or a system engaged in such transportation
b
: an act, process, or instance of passing through or over
2
a
: passage of a celestial body over the meridian of a place or through the field of a telescope
b
: passage of a smaller body (such as Venus) across the disk of a larger (such as the sun)
3
: a theodolite with the telescope mounted so that it can be transited

transit

2 of 2

verb

transited; transiting; transits

intransitive verb

: to make a transit

transitive verb

1
a
: to pass over or through
b
: to cause to pass over or through
2
: to pass across (a meridian, a celestial body, or the field of view of a telescope)
3
: to turn (a telescope) over about the horizontal transverse axis in surveying

Examples of transit in a Sentence

Noun the problems of urban transit Verb once you transit that stretch of dense woods, the hiking should be much easier
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
These are bright yellow, secured, bins located at transit centers, parks, community centers, churches and more. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 5 Nov. 2024 For more information about free rides, visit the local transit agencies: Election Day 2024 Live Updates:Hoosiers head to the polls to vote for president, governor Get one free Hertz car rental day Hertz users get one free with a minimum two-day rental at neighborhood locations. Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
Venus sheds light on the beauty in vulnerability and soul-to-soul connection when transiting through this Water sign, so don’t hesitate to confront the darker aspects of your relationship with romance, finances and self-worth. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 Oct. 2024 As long as Zulu is in place, no vessels could enter or transit through any of these ports without the permission of the Coast Guard. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for transit 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English transite, from Latin transitus, from transire to go across, pass

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of transit was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near transit

Cite this Entry

“Transit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transit. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

transit

1 of 2 noun
1
: an act, process, or example of passing through or over : passage
2
: the transporting of persons or things from one place to another
goods lost in transit
3
: local transportation of people in public vehicles
also : the vehicles or system used in such transportation
4
: a surveyor's instrument for measuring angles

transit

2 of 2 verb
: to pass or cause to pass over, through, or across
Etymology

Noun

from Latin transitus "passage, journey," from transire "to go across, pass," from trans- "across, beyond" and ire "to go" — related to issue, itinerary

More from Merriam-Webster on transit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!