commute

1 of 2

verb

com·mute kə-ˈmyüt

commuted; commuting

Synonyms of commute next

transitive verb

: change, alter

: to give in exchange for another : exchange

commuting foreign currency to domestic

: to convert (something, such as a payment) into another form

The periodic payments may be commuted into a lump sum.

: to change (a penalty) to another less severe

commute a death sentence to life in prison

: commutate

intransitive verb

: make up, compensate

commuted for her sins

: to pay in gross (see gross entry 3 sense 1)

: to travel back and forth regularly (as between a suburb and a city)

He commutes to work every day by car.

: to yield the same mathematical result regardless of order

—used of two elements undergoing an operation or of two operations on elements

commutable

kə-ˈmyü-tə-bəl

adjective

commute

2 of 2

noun

: an act or an instance of commuting

: the distance covered in commuting

a long commute

Did you know?

When you commute between a suburb and a city, you're "exchanging" one location for another. When a chief executive substitutes a life sentence for the death sentence handed down by a court, he or she is commuting the original sentence. Most such commutations are the result of the prisoner's good behavior. A commutator is a device in many electric motors that regularly changes alternating current to direct current.

Examples of commute in a Sentence

Verb He commutes to work every day by train. She commutes 400 miles a week. The judge commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Then Smith stood up in court, per the AP, claiming that in 2018 former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper had commuted the first-degree murder sentences of six men. —

Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2024 On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that President Biden will not pardon Hunter, and also said the President wouldn’t try to commute Hunter’s sentence. —

Nik Popli, TIME, 5 Sep. 2024

Noun

Bundling a grocery run with other errands or the work commute is another good strategy to reduce your footprint. —

Scott Neuman, NPR, 11 Sep. 2024 Houston's commute was just slightly faster than Austin's — 24.22 compared to 24.04 mph — Dallas was 25.25 mph, San Antonio at 26.22 mph and Fort Worth at 28.25 mph. —

Nicole Cobler, Axios, 10 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for commute

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'commute.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Latin commutare to change, exchange, from com- + mutare to change — more at mutable

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1954, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of commute was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Articles Related to commute

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Commute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commute. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024.

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Kids Definition

commute

1 of 2 verb

com·mute kə-ˈmyüt

commuted; commuting

: exchange entry 2

especially : to change a penalty to another one that is less severe

commute a death sentence to life imprisonment

: to travel back and forth regularly

commutable

-ˈmyüt-ə-bəl

adjective

commuter noun

commute

2 of 2 noun

: an act or instance of commuting

the morning commute to work

: the distance covered in commuting

a long commute

Legal Definition

commute

transitive verb

com·mute kə-ˈmyüt

commuted; commuting

: to convert (as a payment) into another form

: to change (a penalty) to one less severe especially out of clemency compare pardon

commutation

ˌkä-myə-ˈtā-shən

noun

commutative

kə-ˈmyü-tə-tiv, ˈkä-myə-ˌtā-tiv

adjective

Last Updated: 13 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences

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commute

verb

noun

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Synonyms

Examples of commute in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near commute

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition