trekking: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Informal (in the recreational sense); can be formal in historical or metaphorical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “trekking” mean?
The act of undertaking a long, arduous journey on foot, especially across difficult terrain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of undertaking a long, arduous journey on foot, especially across difficult terrain.
Also refers to long-distance hiking as a recreational activity, often in wilderness areas or mountains. Can be used metaphorically for any challenging, drawn-out process.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally common in both varieties. Spelling of the gerund/participle form 'trekking' is standard in both (not 'trekking').
Connotations
Slightly stronger association with exotic, overseas travel (e.g., in the Himalayas) in British English. In American English, it may more readily apply to long hikes in domestic wilderness (e.g., the Appalachian Trail).
Frequency
High and comparable frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “trekking” in a Sentence
go trekking in [LOCATION]go trekking through [AREA/TERRAIN]spend [TIME PERIOD] trekkingtrekking is [ADJECTIVE]the trekking was [ADJECTIVE]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “trekking” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They spent three weeks trekking across the Scottish Highlands.
- After trekking all day, we were desperate for a proper cuppa.
American English
- We trekked through the Grand Canyon for five days.
- I trekked all the way to the admin office only to find it closed.
adjective
British English
- He bought some new trekking trousers for the trip.
- The trekking holiday in Morocco was brilliantly organised.
American English
- She needed to break in her new trekking shoes before the trip.
- We packed all our trekking gear into the rental car.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorically: 'The team is trekking through the final phase of the audit.'
Academic
Used in geography, tourism studies, and anthropology to describe a type of travel or fieldwork.
Everyday
Primarily used to describe a recreational holiday activity: 'We're going trekking in Nepal next year.'
Technical
In outdoor equipment and tourism industries to specify a type of activity requiring specific gear and planning.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “trekking”
- Confusing 'trekking' with casual 'hiking' or 'walking'. Using 'trekking' for very short walks. Misspelling as 'treking'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Trekking implies a longer, more arduous, and often multi-day journey, typically in remote or wilderness areas. Hiking can be a shorter, less demanding day walk.
Yes, but only metaphorically and informally (e.g., 'We trekked across three states in one day'). The core meaning remains a journey on foot.
It is primarily the '-ing' form (present participle/gerund) of the verb 'to trek'. It functions as a verbal noun (e.g., 'Trekking is fun') and is also used attributively as an adjective (e.g., 'trekking poles').
It comes from South African Dutch (later Afrikaans) 'trek', meaning 'to pull, travel, migrate', from Dutch 'trekken' ('to draw, pull, travel'). It entered English via descriptions of the Boer migrations (the Great Trek) in the 19th century.
The act of undertaking a long, arduous journey on foot, especially across difficult terrain.
Trekking is usually neutral to informal (in the recreational sense); can be formal in historical or metaphorical contexts. in register.
Trekking: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtrɛkɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtrɛkɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not a significant source of idioms; the word itself is often used descriptively.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Trekking sounds like 'track-ing' – following a track on a long journey.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / A DIFFICULT TASK IS A TREK ('We've been trekking through this paperwork all day.')
Practice
Quiz
Which of these activities is most accurately described as 'trekking'?