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

Related Stories Alemán is the first human in history to have completed the Triple Grand Slam of Travel, visiting all 193 countries recognized by the United Nations, trekking to both the North and South Poles and traveling to space. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 17 July 2026

For millennia, upward of 5,000 ancestors living in the basin, many trekking to higher elevation to gather food in the summertime. — Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Noun

Emerging victorious from the Trojan War, Odysseus embarks on a harrowing, years-long trek home to reunite with Queen Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and their son, Prince Telemachus (Tom Holland). — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

One of Layzie Bone’s friends from New Zealand made the arduous trek to be there in person, while others flew in from Ohio and several other states. — Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 17 July 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"