walkabout

noun

walk·​about ˈwȯ-kə-ˌbau̇t 

1

: a nomadic walking journey engaged in by Aboriginal Australians in the bush

… we were taken out bush, not country visits, but walkabout. We used to go camping out with our family to Warkurlpa or to other places every weekend.

—Barbara Martin

… our family always in bush on walkabout; our family always on move, never stop in one place.

—Jack Crombie

broadly : a walking journey or trek in nature

During each foraging walk, Collins discusses characteristics for proper identification of flora and fungi, as well as meal and medicinal preparation. Trailside nibbling throughout the walkabout is encouraged.

—Bennington Banner (VT)

2

: a walking tour

They asked staff to participate in a walkabout to hear the concerns of over 70 neighbours.

—Sam Duerksen

… a constant stream of visitor groups arrive at the school's main entrance for 15-minute walkabouts through the school—pieced together by student guides with stops at memorable spaces, including the gym where [Zac] Efron belted "Get'cha Head in the Game."

—Margaret Darby

especially, British : one in which a well-known person (such as royalty, a celebrity, or an official) mingles with the public

The king undertook a short walkabout before he left, meeting members of the public …

—Russell Myers

It has become somewhat of a tradition in Montreal for politicians to do a walkabout in the city to greet commuters the morning after an election win.

—Allison Hanes

see also go walkabout

Examples of walkabout in a Sentence

Many people gathered to meet the Queen during her walkabout.

Recent Examples on the Web

From her first walkabouts, Diana reached out to the strangers who reached towards her. — Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026

More than 90% of the action takes place in the Scottish Highlands — or its intersection with the Twilight Zone — starting with the very first scene, where von Essen’s Tommy and his hiking sidekick, Happy Anderson as Jeff, are on a middle-of-the-night walkabout. — Chris Willman, Variety, 27 May 2026

Something else criticized by Greenlandic officials was Landry’s interaction with a group of children while on a walkabout in Nuuk. — Alexander Smith, NBC news, 23 May 2026

During this year’s royal walkabout, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were joined by Sir David Beckham for a tour of the garden sponsored by his King’s Foundation. — Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 19 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing walkabout

• go walkabout

Rhymes for walkabout

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout