Journeys & Movement — A2 Essential Words

depart /dɪˈpɑːrt/ verb A2 Travel

Meaning: To leave a place, especially to start a journey (formal — used on signs, tickets, and announcements).

Example: The train departs at nine.

Another example: Our flight departs from Gate 7.

Collocations: depart at · depart from · the train departs

Synonyms: leave, set off, go

Antonyms: arrive

Word family: departure (n) · departed (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Depart lives on departure boards and announcements; people in conversation just 'leave'. Its twin ARRIVE works at both levels.

🗣 In spoken American English: Airports split the whole world into its two boards: Departures and Arrivals.

Register: Formal — travel essential.

land /lænd/ verb / noun A2 Travel

Meaning: To come down to the ground after flying; also the solid surface of the Earth (not water), and a country or area.

Example: The plane lands at noon in Denver.

Another example: They own land near the lake.

Collocations: the plane lands · land at · dry land

Synonyms: touch down, ground, earth

Antonyms: take off, sea

Word family: lands (n pl) · landing (n) · landscape (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Pilots 'land' planes; passengers just arrive. 'Land a job' means win it — the touchdown metaphor flies into careers.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'The eagle has landed' put it on the Moon in 1969.

Register: Neutral — travel essential.

unpack /ʌnˈpæk/ verb A2 Travel

Meaning: To take things out of a suitcase or box after traveling or moving.

Example: I unpacked my suitcase at the hotel.

Another example: She unpacked the boxes in her new room.

Collocations: unpack the suitcase · unpack at · unpack boxes

Synonyms: empty, take out, unload

Antonyms: pack

Word family: unpacks (v) · unpacked (adj) · unpacking (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Pack and unpack are travel's open and close brackets. Teachers also 'unpack' difficult ideas — taking them out piece by piece.

🗣 In spoken American English: Some suitcases stay unpacked for weeks after trips — a universal confession.

Register: Neutral — travel essential.

miss /mɪs/ verb A2 Travel

Meaning: To fail to catch a plane, train, or bus; to feel sad because someone or something is absent; to fail to hit or notice something.

Example: We missed the train by two minutes.

Another example: I miss my family in Ohio.

Collocations: miss the train · miss you · miss the target

Synonyms: fail to catch, long for, overlook

Antonyms: catch, hit

Word family: misses (v) · missing (adj) · miss (n)

⚠ Common mistake: One verb holds travel disaster and homesickness. 'Miss the point' fails understanding; 'a near miss' nearly collides.

🗣 In spoken American English: Airports play its announcement of doom: 'Final call.'

Register: Neutral — travel essential.

exchange /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/ verb / noun A2 Travel

Meaning: To give something and receive something else in return; to change money of one country for money of another.

Example: We exchanged dollars for euros.

Another example: Students exchange emails after the trip.

Collocations: exchange money · exchange for · in exchange

Synonyms: swap, trade, change

Word family: exchanges (n pl) · exchange rate (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Exchange students swap countries for a year; exchange RATES decide what your money is worth abroad. Airport booths charge the famous worst ones.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Exchange words' can mean argue — context warms or cools it.

Register: Neutral — travel essential.

hike /haɪk/ verb / noun A2 Travel

Meaning: To walk long distances in nature (mountains, forests) for pleasure or exercise; such a walk.

Example: We hiked six miles in the mountains.

Another example: The hike to the waterfall takes two hours.

Collocations: go hiking · a long hike · hike the trail

Synonyms: trek, walk (in nature), climb

Word family: hikes (n pl) · hiker (n) · hiking (n)

⚠ Common mistake: 'Take a hike!' is also a rude way to say go away. Trails rate hikes easy-to-hard like ski runs.

🗣 In spoken American English: America's national parks measure their visitors by it.

Register: Neutral — outdoor essential.

camp /kæmp/ verb / noun A2 Travel

Meaning: To stay outdoors in a tent for a holiday or activity; the place where people do this, or an organized program for children.

Example: We camped by the lake.

Another example: She goes to summer camp in July.

Collocations: go camping · camp by the lake · summer camp

Synonyms: tent-stay, outdoor stay

Word family: camps (n pl) · camping (n) · camper (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Camp is America's childhood institution — songs, lakes, and letters home. The verb needs only a tent and courage about bugs.

🗣 In spoken American English: Campgrounds book out months ahead in famous parks.

Register: Neutral — outdoor essential.

sail /seɪl/ verb / noun A2 Travel

Meaning: To travel in a boat with sails (or any ship); the large cloth that catches the wind to move a boat.

Example: They sail to the island every summer.

Another example: The sail filled with wind.

Collocations: sail to · sail away · set sail

Synonyms: voyage, cruise, float

Word family: sails (n pl) · sailor (n) · sailing (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Sounds exactly like SALE (a discount event) — shops and ships share a sound. 'Smooth sailing' means easy progress in any project.

🗣 In spoken American English: Tall ships still race across oceans on wind alone.

Register: Neutral — travel essential.

explore /ɪkˈsplɔːr/ verb A2 Travel

Meaning: To travel around a new place to learn about it; to examine something carefully to understand it.

Example: We explored the old town on foot.

Another example: Kids explore the tide pools.

Collocations: explore the city · explore on foot · explore ideas

Synonyms: discover, investigate, wander

Word family: explorer (n) · exploration (n) · exploring (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Explorers explore places; scientists explore questions; toddlers explore everything within reach.

🗣 In spoken American English: Space agencies sell their whole mission in this one verb.

Register: Neutral — travel essential.

wander /ˈwɒndər/ verb A2 Travel

Meaning: To walk slowly and without a fixed plan or destination, enjoying the journey.

Example: We wandered through the market for hours.

Another example: He wandered the streets of New York.

Collocations: wander through · wander around · wander the streets

Synonyms: stroll, roam, drift

Word family: wanders (v) · wandering (adj) · wanderer (n)

⚠ Common mistake: 'Not all who wander are lost' — Tolkien's line is printed on a million travel mugs. Minds wander too, in meetings.

🗣 In spoken American English: Flâneurs made it an art in Paris; every city rewards it.

Register: Neutral — travel pleasure.