walkabout

noun

walk·​about ˈwȯ-kə-ˌbau̇t How to pronounce walkabout (audio)
1
: a short period of wandering bush life engaged in by an Australian aborigine as an occasional interruption of regular work
often used in the phrase go walkabout
the man who went walkabout was making a ritual journeyBruce Chatwin
2
: something (such as a journey) similar to a walkabout
3
: a walking tour
especially, British : one in which a well-known person mingles with the public
went walkabout in the streets

Examples of walkabout in a Sentence

Many people gathered to meet the Queen during her walkabout.
Recent Examples on the Web During his walkabout, Bear crosses paths with the spirit of a Conquistador, one of thousands who decimated his ancestors in the 15th and 16th centuries. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 31 July 2023 The king made two highly successful state visits to Europe, addressing the German Parliament in serviceable German, and drawing excited crowds during a walkabout with President Emmanuel Macron of France. Mark Landler, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2024 Our walkabouts revealed some discoveries, as will your own. Allen Pierleoni, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 Karen kicks him out, and Harry’s punishment…is a month-long walkabout? Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 21 Nov. 2023 What works of literature should inform that decade-long walkabout? Vogue, 30 Dec. 2023 The two Queens' easy rapport had been on display since the start of the state visit, from their joint walkabout with their husbands to checking out the buffet at the dinner. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 29 Nov. 2023 Days later, the Prince of Wales and his wife, Kate Middleton, the new Princess of Wales, connected with the crowd during a walkabout in Sandringham. Stacy Lambe, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023 During a walkabout after viewing the waterfall, Prince William posed for selfies, received gifts from the crowd of well-wishers and let an inquisitive 8-month-old baby suck on his finger. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 6 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'walkabout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of walkabout was in 1897

Dictionary Entries Near walkabout

Cite this Entry

“Walkabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/walkabout. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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