tour
B1Neutral to formal (depends on context).
Definition
Meaning
A journey for pleasure or education during which several places are visited.
A planned series of professional visits or performances (e.g., by a band, sports team, or politician); a brief trip around a place of interest to view it; a period of duty, especially in the military or in a job requiring travel.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a circular or round trip, returning to the starting point. Can denote a structured, often guided, experience versus independent travel.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English more readily uses 'tour' as a verb for sightseeing (e.g., 'tour the castle'). In American English, 'tour' as a verb often implies a professional performance circuit (e.g., 'the band is touring'). Both uses exist in both dialects, but frequency differs.
Connotations
In both dialects, 'tour' suggests an organized or purposeful itinerary. In a military context, 'tour of duty' is equally common.
Frequency
High frequency in both, but slightly more common in UK English for domestic sightseeing contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
go on a tour of [place]tour [place] (verb)give someone a tour of [place]be on tour (performing)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on tour”
- “tour of duty”
- “whistle-stop tour”
- “grand tour”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A manager's 'roadshow' or 'promotional tour' to visit clients/investors.
Academic
A 'grand tour' referring to a traditional cultural trip around Europe undertaken by young aristocrats.
Everyday
Booking a 'city tour' while on holiday.
Technical
In computing, a 'site tour' or 'feature tour' for new software users.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We plan to tour the Scottish Highlands next summer.
- The Prime Minister will tour the flood-affected regions.
American English
- The band is touring the Midwest this fall.
- She toured the factory to assess its operations.
adjective
British English
- The tour operator provided excellent service.
- We bought a tour package to Morocco.
American English
- The tour manager handled all the logistics.
- He's a tour veteran with years of experience.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We went on a bus tour of the city.
- The museum tour was very interesting.
- She's saving money for a tour of Southeast Asia.
- The band announced their 2024 world tour.
- After a gruelling six-month tour, the soldiers returned home.
- The critic's tour of the exhibition provided deep insights.
- His lecture constituted a whirlwind tour of post-modernist philosophy.
- The diplomat's clandestine tour of the region aimed to gauge political sentiment.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
TOUR sounds like 'TOWER'. Imagine taking a TOUR to the top of a TOWER to see the view.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A TOUR (e.g., 'He's just touring through life.'), KNOWING IS SEEING (e.g., 'Let me give you a tour of the new features.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'tur' (meaning 'cake' in some contexts).
- Do not directly translate 'tour' as 'тур' in every instance; context is key (e.g., 'tournament' is not 'турнир' of 'tour').
- The verb 'to tour' does not map neatly to a single common Russian verb; use phrases like 'совершать поездку/турне'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'tour' for a one-way business trip (use 'business trip').
- Confusing 'tourist' (person) with 'tour' (the activity/event).
- Incorrect preposition: 'in tour' (wrong) vs. 'on tour' (correct).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'whistle-stop tour'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'tour' is used in many contexts including music (concert tour), business (promotional tour), military (tour of duty), and sightseeing (city tour).
A 'trip' is a general term for travelling from one place to another. A 'tour' specifically implies visiting several places or a structured itinerary, often with the purpose of sightseeing or performance.
Yes. 'To tour' means to travel through or around a place for pleasure, inspection, or performance (e.g., 'tour the country', 'the play is touring').
It describes performers (musicians, actors, athletes) travelling to different locations to give performances or play matches as part of a scheduled series.
Collections
Part of a collection
Travel Vocabulary
A2 · 50 words · Words for getting around, booking trips and visiting new places.