trekking

[ trek-ing ]

noun

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

1. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trekking¹

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

Whether it’s ultralight trekking poles, a reusable water bottle or a sun hoodie with thumb holes, the gear is part of the fun of hiking.

From Los Angeles Times

Even trekking up there was rough, he added, as they encountered strong winds, storms and logistical challenges.

From BBC

The sighting last week came from a group of teenage pig hunters who had been trekking through the bush and filmed the encounter on their phones.

From BBC

It took the crew two days of trekking through the jungle, carrying provisions and gear, to reach the enormous wonder.

From Los Angeles Times

Imja Lake below Mount Everest was drained in 2016 after officials found it was in danger of overflowing and flooding downstream settlements, trekking trails and bridges.

From BBC

Related Words

• itinerant
• roving