trek

1 of 2

verb

ˈtrek 

trekked; trekking

intransitive verb

1

: to make one's way arduously

broadly : journey

2

chiefly South Africa

a

: to travel by ox wagon

b

: to migrate by ox wagon or in a train of such

trekker noun

trek

2 of 2

noun

1

: a trip or movement especially when involving difficulties or complex organization : an arduous journey

2

chiefly South Africa : a journey by ox wagon

especially : an organized migration by a group of settlers

Synonyms of trek

Verb

• travel
• journey
• tour
• trip
• voyage
• pilgrimage

Noun

• trip
• expedition
• journey

Examples of trek in a Sentence

Verb

We had to trek up six flights of stairs with our groceries.

On their vacation last year they went trekking in the Himalayas.

We trekked across the country in her old car.

Noun

Our car broke down and we had a long trek back to town.

a trek across the country

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Teenagers trekked out in small packs, and grownups turned it into a date night. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 6 Nov. 2026

While the high-traffic Everest climbing season is over, Nepal is in the midst of its prime autumn trekking season, even as the country recovers from a devastating monsoon period that included deadly late-August flash floods. — ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

Noun

In a nice touch, a pocket sliding door offers a direct entrance to the bathroom, effectively creating an en-suite and making any nighttime bathroom breaks less of a trek. — New Atlas, 7 Nov. 2026

The co-headlining tour has been a cash cow thus far, as the run was the highest-grossing and best-selling trek of September. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Afrikaans, from Dutch trecken to pull, haul, migrate; akin to Old High German trechan to pull

Noun

Afrikaans, from Dutch treck pull, haul, from trecken

First Known Use

Verb

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for trek

• beck
• breck
• check
• cheque
• czech
• deck
• fleck
• keck
• mech
• neck
• peck
• reck

Kids Definition

trek

1 of 2 verb

ˈtrek 

trekked; trekking

1

chiefly South African : to travel or migrate by ox wagon or in a train of such wagons

2

: to make one's way slowly and painfully

trekker noun

trek

2 of 2 noun

1

chiefly South African : an organized journey or migration of a group of settlers traveling by ox wagon

2

: a slow or difficult journey

Etymology

Verb

from Afrikaans trek, "to travel by ox wagon," from Dutch trecken "to haul, pull"