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Synonyms

trek

American  
[trek] / trɛk /

verb (used without object)

trekked, trekking
  1. to travel or migrate slowly or with difficulty, often through rough or unsettled territory.

    He managed to escape from a Siberian labor camp and trekked to Iran, a three-year journey.

  2. to hike long distances as a recreational activity, especially over rough terrain.

    He's trekked through the Himalayas and summited Mt. Kilimanjaro.

  3. to make a short but difficult trip on foot.

    We trekked back to our hotel in the pouring rain.

  4. South Africa. to travel by ox wagon.


verb (used with object)

trekked, trekking
  1. South Africa. (of a draft animal) to draw (a vehicle or load).

noun

  1. a slow or difficult journey, hike, or trip.

  2. South Africa.

    1. a migration or expedition, especially by ox wagon.

    2. a stage of such a journey, between one stopping place and the next.

trek British  
/ trɛk /

noun

  1. a long and often difficult journey

  2. a journey or stage of a journey, esp a migration by ox wagon

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) to make a trek

  2. (tr) (of an ox, etc) to draw (a load)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • trekker noun
  • untrekked adjective

Etymology

Origin of trek

First recorded in 1845–50; from Afrikaans and Dutch noun trek “a tug, pull, march”; verb from Afrikaans trek “to draw, pull, migrate,” from Dutch trekken

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.

Along with legions of other kids who grew up in Colorado, Parker and Stone fondly remember making the trek to the Casa Bonita of their 1980s youth.

From Los Angeles Times

While many trek in from across the country or from the diaspora in Europe and the United States, some hotel owners also report growing numbers of foreign tourists as the annual fete grows.

From Barron's

Gilbert Cyril Gerard was born Jan. 23, 1943, in Little Rock, Ark., and trekked to New York City in 1969 to give acting a shot, studying at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

From Los Angeles Times

Fish waited until November 2025 to make his first trek to North America with an 11-date run featuring his first U.S. festival booking.

From Los Angeles Times

He trekked to China to meditate with monks at a Shaolin temple.

From The Wall Street Journal