Train Definition Train Definition 1

Train (noun) — a track-based transport vehicle used to travel through cities, regions, or countries either with cargo or passengers.

Trains have just the right combination of comfort and speed and are also economical, hence a perfect option when it comes to traveling long distances without involving the drama of traffic.

Part of speech:
Noun (countable)
Phonetic transcription (IPA):
/treɪn/
CEFR level:
A1
Word frequency:

How to Pronounce “Train”?

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Tips for train pronunciation: 

It’s one syllable, starting with “tr” like in “tree” and rhyming with “rain” — fitting, since trains don’t mind the weather.

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Examples: How to Use “Train” in a Sentence?

“Train” is a familiar word, often tied to travel, commuting, or even missed connections. From daily rides to cross-country adventures, here’s how it shows up in real life:

He missed the last train home and had to crash at a friend’s place.

We took a train through the mountains — it felt like a moving postcard.

She reads a book every morning on the train to work.

The train was delayed again, and no one even looked surprised.

I love how peaceful it is to just sit by the window and watch the world go by on a train.

What Are Synonyms for the Word “Train”?

Want to level up your language game? Learning a few alternatives to the “train” word adds variety and keeps things interesting when you talk or write.

Related nouns: transport railway

Synonyms (contextual): locomotive

Common collocations: by train train station catch a train train schedule

“Train” Word Formation and Description in Context

Simple but powerful, this word fits like a glove in many phrases. Let’s break down its use across parts of speech:

With adjectives: fast train local train historic train

With verbs: catch a train miss a train board a train

With nouns (noun + noun): train station train ticket freight train

Idioms and Phrases with “Train”

Can a word like “train” carry expressions packed with meaning? Absolutely. Define “train” and it’s more than transport — it’s motion, direction, momentum. Here are some common sayings English speakers use, often linked to travel or life’s journey.

  • Jump on the train — means to get involved in something that’s gaining popularity, like a trend, idea, or movement.

      Everyone’s talking about the new app — don’t miss out, jump on the train while it’s still hot.
  • Train of thought — refers to the flow of ideas or reasoning in someone’s mind.

      Sorry, I lost my train of thought when the phone rang.
  • Bring (something) in its train — used in a more literary or serious tone, it means that something leads to a series of effects or results, just as a train pulls everything connected behind it.

      The economic crisis brought inflation and unemployment in its train, affecting millions across the country.
  • That train has left the station — this idiom means it’s too late to change something or go back; the opportunity is gone, and things are already in motion.

      You had months to submit the application, now the deadline’s passed, and that train has left the station.

Test Your Knowledge of Train Meaning – Quiz Time!

Time to find out how well you know the word “train” and how it works in everyday language. Ready to stay on track?

Type 1: True/false statements:
Choose the right answer:
1
Trains usually run on fixed tracks and schedules.
2
You can stop a train just by waving your hand.
3
A train station is where trains pick up and drop off passengers.
Type 2: Right word order:
Put these expressions in the right order:
1
train
took
We
the
to
city
other
the
2
train
the
caught
barely
They
evening
this
3
asleep
train
the
on
fell
I
Type 3: Choose the correct option
Select the one closest in meaning to train in an English context:
1
He boarded the train just in time. What is a train?
2
We took the subway train to work. What is a “subway” here?
3
The train schedule was updated after the delay. What is a “train schedule”?

Enjoy personalized learning!

“Train” Word in Other Languages

Ready to go global? How do you spell train, not in English? Here’s how this word sounds in some of the most widely spoken languages.

Language Word for “Train”
Flag Spanish Spanish   Tren
Flag French French   Train
Flag German German   Zug

Did You Know It? Interesting Facts About Trains

Trains have a history of hundreds of years behind them, veering through history time and they have come along collecting some really interesting stories with it. It is boarding time on the fun fact express!

  • Steam trains still run — for fun.

    Steam trains might be old, but they’re still chugging along in style, offering scenic rides that feel like a trip back in time.
  • The trains in Japan are renowned for being punctual.

    The average time taken to delay is in seconds, not minutes. In case a train is delayed, you could even receive a written apology.
  • The Shanghai Maglev is the fastest standard passenger train.

    It runs at the pace of 460 km/h, and it feels like what you are doing in your regular commute to work and back is something your pet turtle would do on a treadmill.
  • Certain super-luxury trains are the equivalent of hotels on wheels.

    Consider fine dining, individual suites and cars with glass tops. One of the most famous ones is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
  • Trains are among the greenest ways to travel.

    Compared to planes or cars, modern electric trains produce significantly fewer emissions per passenger, especially when powered by renewable energy.

Famous Quotes Featuring “Train”

Remember the magic of Platform 9¾ or the quiet tension of Brief Encounter’s train station? No spoilers—just cinematic proof that trains carry more than passengers:

  “Trains are wonderful… To travel by train is to see nature and human beings, towns and churches and rivers — in fact, to see life.”

— Agatha Christie

Explanation: A train journey lets you slow down and really see the world, not in snapshots, but as a moving picture of real life.

  “And never again, for all eternity, will the train stop at this station to take him back to the world he came from.”

— Haruki Murakami

Explanation: This quote speaks to moments in life that can’t be undone. The “train” is a symbol of chances or chapters that have passed; once gone, you can’t rewind to who or where you were before.

  “The train is a small world moving through a larger world.”

— Elisha Cooper

Explanation: It captures the idea that a train is a compact world on wheels, offering a front-row seat to the bigger world rolling by.