journeying

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive or intransitiveliterary

   The -ing form of journey: travelling from one place to another, especially over a long distance.

   Grammar: Usually no object, followed by a direction: journeying north.

   Patterns

   • journeying to somewhere
   • journeying through somewhere

   They spent the summer journeying through the Andes by bus.

   Journeying alone taught her to rely on her own judgment.

   The pilgrims were journeying toward the shrine at dawn.

2. 2noununcountableliterary

   The act of making trips or travelling, thought of as an experience.

   Grammar: Used without an or the: Journeying broadens the mind.

   Journeying by rail is slower but far more relaxing.

   His writing is all about journeying and homecoming.

   Years of journeying left her with friends on four continents.

Word forms

Common combinations

journeying through

The band is journeying through six countries this summer.

journeying home

After the war, he spent months journeying home.

journeying alone

Journeying alone requires careful planning.

journeying north

The geese are journeying north for the summer.

journeying together

Journeying together strengthened their friendship.

Synonyms and how they differ

travelling

Travelling is the ordinary everyday word, whereas journeying feels more literary or purposeful.

voyaging

Voyaging suggests a long trip by sea or space, which journeying does not require.

trekking

Trekking implies a hard walk over rough ground, while journeying can use any transport.

wandering

Wandering has no fixed destination, while journeying usually does.

Opposites

Word family

journey noun

a trip from one place to another

journey verb

to travel

journeyer noun

a person who travels

journeyman noun

a trained worker who is paid by the day

Commonly confused: journeying or journal?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “journeying”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words