transcontinental

adjective

trans·​con·​ti·​nen·​tal ˌtran(t)s-ˌkän-tə-ˈnen-tᵊl How to pronounce transcontinental (audio)
ˌtranz-
: extending or going across a continent
a transcontinental railroad

Examples of transcontinental in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For that, the creation of the transcontinental network to help develop the project is key, and per Durán Rojas will likely remain so. Marina E. Franco, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2025 The book falls short in its attempt to tie Yin Manor’s haunted nature to the exploitation of the thousands of Chinese migrants who built the Western half of the first transcontinental railroad, however. Ilana Masad, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025 School children can tell you, for example, that in the 1860s the builders of the first transcontinental railroad recruited Chinese men to lay tracks through the snowy Sierra Nevadas. Steve Inskeep, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025 The rest of the season hinged on Spencer and Alex’s transcontinental journey back to Bozeman, Montana, to both save the Dutton ranch and his family from external threats. Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for transcontinental

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of transcontinental was in 1853

Cite this Entry

“Transcontinental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transcontinental. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

transcontinental

adjective
trans·​con·​ti·​nen·​tal ˌtran(t)s-ˌkänt-ᵊn-ˈent-ᵊl How to pronounce transcontinental (audio)
: extending or going across a continent
a transcontinental flight

More from Merriam-Webster on transcontinental

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!