verb

commute

kuh-MYOOT

verb

To travel regularly between home and one's place of work or study.

"She commutes into the city every day by train."

"He decided to move closer to work so he wouldn't have to commute as far."

To reduce a legal penalty or sentence to something less severe.

"The governor commuted his death sentence to life in prison."

noun

The regular journey between home and work.

"My commute takes almost an hour each way."

How to Use Commute

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo travel back and forth to work regularly, or (in law) to reduce a punishment.

Common pairings

daily commute commute to work commute a sentence

commuted past tense, commuted past tense, commutes plural, commutes singular, commutes singular

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She _____ into the city every day by train.

From Latin commutare ("to change altogether, exchange"), from com- + mutare ("to change").

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