trekking

American

[trek-ing] / ˈtrɛk ɪŋ /

noun

the act of traveling or migrating slowly or with difficulty, as through rough or unsettled territory.

Arduous trekking through the Alleghenies caused their Conestoga wagons to break down again and again.
the act of hiking long distances as a recreational activity, especially over rough terrain.

The three hours of hard trekking over the tough trail is worth it for the splendid view of the valley.
the act of making a relatively short but difficult or burdensome trip.

I moved back into a city apartment because I got tired of all the trekking back and forth and the aggravation of having a house and car.

adjective

traveling, migrating, or hiking over rough terrain, or making any other difficult or burdensome trip.

The overuse of resources by trekking tourists is contributing to environmental harm in Nepal and elsewhere.

Etymology

Origin of trekking

First recorded in 1845–50; trek ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses; trek ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After five hours of trekking he said "I was about to give up and then walked down another path and found it."

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

The resort’s ski patrol initially responded to the injured skier, who was trekking through the rugged and advanced Martis Trail, according to the Sierra Sun, which covers the local community.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

In Mustang district in west Nepal, Nepal Army rescuers took three days trekking and digging through snow on Friday to reach three British and 15 local trekkers.

From Barron's • Nov. 3, 2025

Last week, Cyclone Montha triggered heavy rain and snowfall across Nepal, leaving trekkers and tourists stranded on popular Himalayan trekking routes.

From Barron's • Nov. 3, 2025

The first day trekking was like a cleansing—little talk, the white hush of the north welcoming Matthias back without judgment.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023