tour

American  

[toor] / tʊər /

noun

1. a traveling around from place to place.

2. a long journey including the visiting of a number of places in sequence, especially with an organized group led by a guide.

   Synonyms:

   expedition, trip

3. a brief trip through a place, as a building or a site, in order to view or inspect it.

   The visiting prime minister was given a tour of the chemical plant.

4. a journey from town to town to fulfill engagements, as by a theatrical company or an entertainer.

   to go on tour; a European concert tour.

5. a period of duty at one place or in one job.

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verb (used without object)

1. to travel from place to place.

   Synonyms:

   visit

2. to travel from town to town fulfilling engagements.

verb (used with object)

1. to travel through (a place).

   Synonyms:

   visit

2. to send or take (a theatrical company, its production, etc.) from town to town.

3. to guide (someone) on a tour.

   He toured us through the chateaus of the Loire Valley.

tour British  

/ tʊə /

noun

1. an extended journey, usually taken for pleasure, visiting places of interest along the route

2. military a period of service, esp in one place of duty

3. a short trip, as for inspection

4. a trip made by a theatre company, orchestra, etc, to perform in several different places

   a concert tour

5. an overseas trip made by a cricket or rugby team, etc, to play in several places

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verb

1. to make a tour of (a place)

2. to perform (a show) or promote (a product) in several different places

Other Word Forms

• minitour noun
• untoured adjective

Etymology

Origin of tour

1250–1300; Middle English (noun) < Middle French < Latin tornus < Greek tórnos tool for making a circle. See turn

Explanation

Use the noun tour to describe a route taken while sight-seeing or the act of experiencing a place, like a tour of Italy in which travelers tour museums and churches. Not all tours have to do with vacations. In fact, a tour can be quite the opposite, such as a snowplow driver whose tour during a blizzard lasts until the streets are clear, or military personnel who serve a tour of duty in the place they are assigned. These kinds of tours involve a commitment of work or service for a certain period of time.

Example Sentences

England were "feckless, reckless and legless" on their dismal Ashes tour of Australia, according to the editor of the prestigious Wisden Almanack.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Their father, Peter Krofft, was a clock salesman and joined Sid when he was on tour as a teenager.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

But that’s because he thought there was a better use of his time than visiting tour stops in Texas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

On Monday, he is scheduled to visit the headquarters of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi and tour a technology exhibit at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

After a truth-telling lecture tour failed to attract much of an audience, Maggie retracted her confession: “I gave expression to utterances that had no foundation in fact.”

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• circuit
• course
• cruise
• excursion
• expedition
• outing
• road
• round
• swing
• travel
• trek
• trip