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

Every summer, the de Menils would trek to France and spend time with the larger Schlumberger family at the Val-Richer estate in Normandy—the same land where Conrad conducted his early experiments. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 24 July 2026

The Plex Solo Pro pitches using a single trekking pole for a sharp, single-point peak height of 52 in (132 cm) and a series of six to 10 stakes. — New Atlas, 18 July 2026

Noun

The opening show at Soldier Field kicked off a trek that’ll take her to 63 stadiums across North and Latin America, as well as Europe through mid-2027. — Jessi Roti, Rolling Stone, 25 July 2026

Throughout Odysseus’s arduous trek home, director Christopher Nolan made sure to bring the figures of Greek mythology to life during the nearly three hour movie. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 24 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"