com ‧ mut ‧ er /kəˈmjuːtə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
someone who travels a long distance to work every day
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COLLOCATIONS
■ commuter + NOUN
▪ a commuter train/plane (=a train or plane that people use to travel to work in a city)
Several commuter trains were delayed because of the bad weather.
▪ commuter traffic
The new measures are aimed at reducing commuter traffic into the capital.
▪ a commuter service
More money is needed to improve commuter services in the region.
▪ a commuter town/village (=that a lot of people leave each day to travel to work)
It’s a commuter town about 40 miles from London.
▪ a commuter line (=a railway line that commuters use)
There’s a fast and reliable commuter line across Kent.
▪ a commuter route (=a road or railway line that commuters use)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + commuter
▪ a daily commuter
Thousands of daily commuters pour into the city.
▪ a regular commuter
He was a regular commuter between Cambridge and London.
▪ a long-distance commuter
The fare increases will be bad news for long-distance commuters.
▪ a suburban commuter
The majority of suburban commuters were unable to get to New York.
▪ a morning commuter
By 7:30 the roads are jammed with the usual morning commuters.
▪ a rail commuter (=a commuter who travels by train)
Rail commuters face severe delays because of engineering works.
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THESAURUS
■ people who travel
▪ traveller British English , traveler American English someone who is travelling a long distance:
Weary travellers waited at the airport.
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My aunt was a great traveller. (=she travelled a lot) .
▪ tourist someone who is travelling somewhere for a holiday:
During the summer, over a million tourists visit the island each year.
▪ passenger someone who is travelling in a vehicle, plane, ship etc but not driving it or working on it:
The driver and two passengers were killed in the crash.
▪ commuter someone who travels to work every day:
commuters on the train to London
▪ backpacker someone who travels to a lot of different places, carrying their clothes etc in a ↑ rucksack :
The hostels are great for backpackers.
▪ explorer someone who travels to places that people have not visited before:
Potatoes were brought to England by explorers such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh.