Meaning & use
en route to
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
on the way to a place, or during the journey toward a destination
Grammar: Used before a noun phrase: en route to the airport. It can also stand alone without 'to': We stopped en route.
Patterns
- en route to + place
- en route to + doing something
We stopped for coffee en route to the conference.
The shipment was delayed en route to the warehouse.
She read the entire report en route to Chicago.
phrasefixed phrasefigurative
in the process of reaching a goal or result
Grammar: Often used figuratively with abstract nouns: en route to success.
Patterns
- en route to + abstract noun
The company is en route to record profits this year.
After months of training, he is en route to recovery.
Common combinations
- en route to the airport
- The taxi broke down en route to the airport.
- en route to success
- Hard work and patience put her en route to success.
- stop en route
- We decided to stop en route for a quick meal.
- be en route
- The rescue team is already en route.
Synonyms and how they differ
- on the way to
- More informal and common in everyday speech; 'en route to' sounds slightly more formal or journalistic.
- heading for
- Focuses on the direction or destination, not necessarily the journey itself.
Commonly confused: en route to or in route? en route to or on route?
en route to vs in route
A common misspelling. The correct phrase is 'en route', borrowed from French.
en route to vs on route
Also a misspelling; 'on the route' would mean following a particular path, not being on the way.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'en route to' a place. 'For' is not used in this pattern, and 'at' or 'in' would mean she had already arrived, not that she was on the way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “en route to”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.