tours: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “tours” mean?
An instance of traveling from place to place to visit attractions, or the act of guiding someone on such visits.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An instance of traveling from place to place to visit attractions, or the act of guiding someone on such visits.
Can refer to organized sightseeing trips, promotional journeys by musicians/artists, scheduled inspections of a site (e.g., factory tour), military postings away from headquarters, or periods of duty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'tour' similarly for sightseeing and musical performances. The verb 'to tour' is equally common.
Connotations
Neutral in both, though a 'tour of duty' has stronger military associations.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “tours” in a Sentence
to tour [PLACE]to go on a tour of [PLACE]to take someone on a tourVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tours” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The band plans to tour the UK next autumn.
- We spent the day touring the historic castle.
- She has toured extensively with the theatre company.
American English
- The band plans to tour the US next fall.
- We spent the day touring the historic fort.
- She has toured extensively with the theater company.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb. 'Touristically' is rare.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb. 'Touristically' is rare.
adjective
British English
- The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable.
- He bought a tour ticket in advance.
- They offer tour packages for families.
American English
- The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable.
- He bought a tour ticket in advance.
- They offer tour packages for families.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Promotional tours for product launches; factory tours for clients.
Academic
Used in historical contexts (e.g., 'The Grand Tour') or cultural studies (e.g., 'concert tours').
Everyday
Sightseeing trips, holiday activities.
Technical
In computing, a 'tour' can refer to a demo or walkthrough of software features.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tours”
- Incorrect: 'We did a tour in Paris.' Correct: 'We went on a tour of Paris.' or 'We toured Paris.'
- Confusing 'tours' (trips) with 'turns' (rotations).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The city 'Tours' is pronounced /tuʁ/ in French, approximated in English as /tʊər/ or /tɔːr/. The plural noun 'tours' is /tʊərz/ (UK) or /tʊrz/ (US).
A 'tour' often implies a guided, structured itinerary, possibly over multiple days. An 'excursion' is typically a short trip or outing, often for leisure, and may be less structured.
Yes. For example: 'The band is touring.' (intransitive) means they are traveling to give performances. 'The band is touring Asia.' (transitive) specifies the location.
It describes the state of traveling to perform or visit places as part of a scheduled series, commonly used for musicians, theatre companies, or sports teams (e.g., 'The orchestra is on tour in Europe').
An instance of traveling from place to place to visit attractions, or the act of guiding someone on such visits.
Tours is usually neutral in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on tour”
- “whistle-stop tour”
- “grand tour”
- “tour of duty”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the Tower of London: TOU Ring the bell for a tour. TOURs let you see more.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A TOUR (e.g., 'his tour of life was brief'), KNOWING IS SEEING (e.g., 'take a tour of the facts').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'tours' is NOT typical?