tour

noun \ ˈtu̇r , sense 2 is also ˈtau̇(-ə)r \

Updated on: 20 May 2018

1 a : a journey for business, pleasure, or education often involving a series of stops and ending at the starting point; also : something resembling such a tour

a tour of the history of philosophy

b : a series of professional tournaments (as in golf or tennis)

c : a brief turn : round

2 a : a period during which an individual or unit is on a specific duty or at one place

a tour of duty

b : one's turn in an orderly schedule : shift

See tour defined for English-language learners

See tour defined for kids

Examples of tour in a Sentence

We went on a tour of Italy.
They went on a driving tour of New England.
They went on a tour of the city.
We were taken on a tour of the school.
We went on a guided tour of the museum.
They gave us a tour of their new house.
during his tour in Vietnam
He served a tour of duty in Germany.

Recent Examples of tour from the Web

But those talks fell apart after the South refused to agree to restart joint tours to the North’s scenic Diamond Mountain resort, which were suspended in 2008 following the shooting death of a South Korean tourist.

— Washington Post, "False starts, failures in diplomacy with North Korea," 16 May 2018
In time, its fame spilled out way beyond Florida with tours in dance capitals like New York and Paris.

— jose lambiet, miamiherald, "Ballet founder asks court for OK to include Edward Villella in memoir | Miami Herald," 16 May 2018
Geaschel served the Army for more than 20 years and had a combat tour assignment to Iraq.

— diane dachota, chicagotribune.com, "Army chaplain and Lutheran minister to lead Western Springs Memorial Day parade," 15 May 2018
Harding, known primarily for her involvement in an attack on fellow Olympian Nancy Kerrigan in 1994, has embarked on a comeback tour this year in the wake of the sympathetic biopic I, Tonya.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "Tonya Harding Made It to the "Dancing With the Stars" Finale and Fans Are Livid," 15 May 2018
Pre-schoolers can enjoy two-hour sessions learning about animals and counting, while older children will enjoy crafts and guided tours over the course of several days.

— jennifer michelle greenberg, Houston Chronicle, "Looking for a summer camp? Here are options," 15 May 2018
Saint Lucia Summer is on sale with hotel deals, snorkel tours and catamaran cruises.

— melanie reffes, USA TODAY, "Summer's on sale at luxurious Caribbean resorts," 15 May 2018
The booking pace for hotels and other activities, such as tours for lava viewing, zip lines and glass bottom boats have fallen 50 percent.

— CBS News, "Gas released by volcano eruption poses immediate danger, officials warn," 15 May 2018
The beloved etiquette classes for children are also available as part of the Finishing Program's tour.

— maggie maloney, Town & Country, "The Plaza Hotel's Etiquette Class Is Expanding Across the United States," 14 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tour.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tour

Middle English, from Anglo-French tur, tourn turning, circuit, journey — more at turn

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 2b

See Words from the same year

tour Synonyms

Synonyms

hitch, stint, tenure, term;

Related Words

shift, watch;

go, turn;

duration, standing, time;

cycle, span, spell, stretch;

life, life span, lifetime, run;

tour

verb

transitive verb

1 : to make a tour of

2 : to present (something, such as a theatrical production) on a tour

intransitive verb

: to make a tour

See tour defined for English-language learners

Examples of tour in a Sentence

We'll tour the museum tomorrow.
We toured around for several weeks last summer.
“Are you here to study?” “No, I'm just touring.”
Is the band touring this year?
The show has toured the country.

Recent Examples of tour from the Web

Over the years, both the Druid and the Abbey helped advance the slow-growing appreciation of Mr. Murphy internationally by touring their productions of his plays.

— neil genzlinger, BostonGlobe.com, "Tom Murphy, acclaimed Irish playwright, 83," 18 May 2018
Besides touring the farm and spending time with some of its residents, the actress and her fiance, Karl Cook, spent time at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "'The Big Bang Theory' star brings her love of horses to Kentucky," 16 May 2018
Meredith utilized large photographs and jars of pollen and honey to start the program inside the nature center, before the guests, covered from head to toe in protective bee suits, toured the beehives outside.

— denys bucksten, chicagotribune.com, "Heller Nature Center offers a Mother's Day lesson on bee colonies," 15 May 2018
Harris has appeared at jazz fests around the globe, toured with Teena Marie as her featured saxophonist and flutist and has playe alongside B.B. King, Baby Face and more.

— cleveland.com, "10 things to do in Akron and Summit County the week of May 14-20," 14 May 2018
And now, this Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning masterpiece returns to the stage in a vibrant 20th anniversary touring production.

— Indianapolis Star, "See the RENT 20th Anniversary Tour," 14 May 2018
Today, the location page is full of images of visitors touring all the corners of the temple grounds, one image or story at a time.

— natt garun, The Verge, "The unexpected catharsis of an Instagram location page," 12 May 2018
As the son of the company’s founder, the Dr. Bronner, Jim Bronner spent his childhood in and out of foster homes while his dad toured California giving away soap and spreading his philosophy.

— j. harry jones, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Jim Bronner of Dr. Bronner's soap empire honored with YMCA gym dedication," 12 May 2018
Tickets: $6 ($4 for 17 and under), $12 during special Cincinnati Fringe Festival tours.

— david lyman, Cincinnati.com, "Tour a life-size, underground comic book in Over-the-Rhine," 11 May 2018

First Known Use of tour

1708

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

tour Synonyms

Synonyms

journey, peregrinate, pilgrimage, travel, trek, voyage;

migrate, road-trip;

bus, cab, coach, cruise, drive, fly, gig, jet, motor, navigate, ride, roll, sail, trundle;

barnstorm;

TOUR Defined for English Language Learners

tour

noun

: a journey through the different parts of a country, region, etc.
: an activity in which you go through a place (such as a building or city) in order to see and learn about the different parts of it
: a series of related performances, appearances, competitions, etc., that occur at different places over a period of time