lo·co·mo·tive
ˌlō-kə-ˈmō-tiv 
1
2
: of or relating to travel
3
: of, relating to, or being a machine that moves about by operation of its own mechanism
1
: a self-propelled vehicle that runs on rails and is used for moving railroad cars
2
: a school or college cheer characterized by a slow beginning and a progressive increase in speed
Examples of locomotive in a Sentence
Adjective
the locomotive ability of spiders
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Purdue had a working railroad engine in its locomotive laboratory.
—NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
The freight cars were destroyed by the accident, but the tender and locomotive were repaired and returned to service.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024
Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap out of a market slump in a single bound!
—Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
One locomotive fireman named Frank Goodrich had to have his leg amputated due to injuries from the crash, and four cattle being carried in the freight cars were killed.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024
The train's two steam locomotive engines will leave the zoo; they've been sold to the Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society in Wisconsin Dells.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024
Behar said she was forced to verbally accost a locomotive employee because the woman wouldn't let Behar, who had a coach-class ticket, use an exclusive bathroom aboard the craft.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2023
The first company to locate at Neighborhood 91 was locomotive manufacturer Wabtec, which uses the space to house its innovative aluminum 3D printing for locomotive braking systems.
—Carolyn Schwaar, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Thomas Catenacci, Fox News, 14 Apr. 2024
Free; 2245 Como Ave. June 1–2 — Train Days, Union Depot: Seems like a reasonable place to celebrate locomotives!
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2024
Six railcars, including three carrying ethanol and butane residue, derailed along with two locomotives on the third train, sending the locomotives into the river.
—Josh Funk, Quartz, 26 Mar. 2024
California has gone farther than other states, requiring diesel trucks to have smog checks, regulating pollution from large ships and locomotives, and requiring the owners of old semi-trucks to replace their engines.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024
Last year, California air regulators adopted new rules that would eventually phase out heavy-duty trucks and locomotives that burn fossil fuels.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
The train derailed on impact and the locomotive rolled onto its side, Kessler said.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2024
Kids will love exploring the historic locomotive housed within.
—David Nikel, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
No hazardous materials spilled other than the diesel that leaked from the locomotives into the river.
—Josh Funk, Quartz, 26 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Emergency warnings—foghorns, locomotive whistles, ambulance and fire-truck sirens, air-raid sirens—fall into a special category of necessary, life-saving noise.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
Purdue had a working railroad engine in its locomotive laboratory.
—NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
The freight cars were destroyed by the accident, but the tender and locomotive were repaired and returned to service.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024
Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap out of a market slump in a single bound!
—Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
One locomotive fireman named Frank Goodrich had to have his leg amputated due to injuries from the crash, and four cattle being carried in the freight cars were killed.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024
The train's two steam locomotive engines will leave the zoo; they've been sold to the Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society in Wisconsin Dells.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024
Behar said she was forced to verbally accost a locomotive employee because the woman wouldn't let Behar, who had a coach-class ticket, use an exclusive bathroom aboard the craft.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2023
The first company to locate at Neighborhood 91 was locomotive manufacturer Wabtec, which uses the space to house its innovative aluminum 3D printing for locomotive braking systems.
—Carolyn Schwaar, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
The former mandates wide swaths of the heavy-duty vehicle sector to be electrified by 2035, and the latter requires locomotives to begin transitioning to zero-emissions technology in 2030.
—Thomas Catenacci, Fox News, 14 Apr. 2024
Free; 2245 Como Ave. June 1–2 — Train Days, Union Depot: Seems like a reasonable place to celebrate locomotives!
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2024
Six railcars, including three carrying ethanol and butane residue, derailed along with two locomotives on the third train, sending the locomotives into the river.
—Josh Funk, Quartz, 26 Mar. 2024
California has gone farther than other states, requiring diesel trucks to have smog checks, regulating pollution from large ships and locomotives, and requiring the owners of old semi-trucks to replace their engines.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024
Last year, California air regulators adopted new rules that would eventually phase out heavy-duty trucks and locomotives that burn fossil fuels.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
The train derailed on impact and the locomotive rolled onto its side, Kessler said.
—Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2024
Kids will love exploring the historic locomotive housed within.
—David Nikel, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
No hazardous materials spilled other than the diesel that leaked from the locomotives into the river.
—Josh Funk, Quartz, 26 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'locomotive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near locomotive
Cite this Entry
“Locomotive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/locomotive. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
locomotive
1 of 2 adjective
lo·co·mo·tive
ˌlō-kə-ˈmōt-iv
1
: of or relating to locomotion
2
: of, relating to, or being a locomotive
locomotive
2 of 2 noun
: an engine that moves under its own power
especially
: one that hauls cars on a railroad
Medical Definition
locomotive
adjective
lo·co·mo·tive
ˌlō-kə-ˈmōt-iv
: locomotor sense 1
locomotive organs include flagella, cilia, pseudopodia, and limbs
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