traipse
lowinformal
Definition
Meaning
To walk or move wearily or reluctantly, often over a long distance.
To wander aimlessly or without purpose, sometimes implying annoyance or unnecessary effort.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often conveys a sense of irritation or fatigue associated with the movement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used similarly in both varieties, but may be more common in British English.
Connotations
Slightly negative, implying tedious or aimless movement.
Frequency
More frequent in British English than in American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
intransitivetraipse + through + nounVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used; informal contexts only.
Academic
Not typically used in formal writing.
Everyday
Common in casual conversation to describe tiring or aimless walks.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She traipsed around the shops all day.
- They traipsed through the muddy fields.
American English
- He traipsed through the mall for hours.
- We traipsed around the park looking for the dog.
adjective
British English
- The traipsing tourists seemed lost.
American English
- Their traipsing journey was exhausting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I traipsed to the store.
- After traipsing around the city, we were very tired.
- She had to traipse through the rain to get home.
- Despite the heat, they traipsed across the desert without complaint.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'traipse' as combining 'trap' and 'aisle'—imagine being trapped in a long aisle and walking wearily.
Conceptual Metaphor
Movement as a laborious or aimless journey.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Might be confused with 'тропить' (to tread), but 'traipse' emphasizes aimlessness or weariness.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing
- Confusing with 'trespass'.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'traipse' typically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and best used in casual contexts.
Yes, informally, as in 'a long traipse,' but it is primarily a verb.
It often collocates with prepositions like 'around,' 'through,' or 'about.'
It is used similarly, but may be more frequent in British English.