backpacking

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The activity of traveling or hiking with a backpack, often staying in cheap places or camping.

   Grammar: Uncountable: no plural; say 'go backpacking' or 'backpacking is fun'.

   Patterns

   • go backpacking
   • backpacking trip
   • backpacking through a place

   They went backpacking through Europe for three months.

   Backpacking is a cheap way to see the world.

   She loves backpacking in the mountains on weekends.

2. 2verbintransitive

   The present participle of 'backpack': traveling or hiking with a backpack.

   Grammar: Used in progressive tenses: 'They are backpacking.' No object.

   Patterns

   • be backpacking
   • go backpacking

   They are backpacking across Asia this summer.

   He was backpacking alone in the Andes.

Word forms

Common combinations

go backpacking

We plan to go backpacking in the national park.

backpacking trip

They took a backpacking trip through the Rockies.

backpacking through Europe

After college, she went backpacking through Europe.

backpacking gear

He bought new backpacking gear for the trip.

Synonyms and how they differ

hiking

Walking in nature for pleasure; backpacking often involves hiking but also traveling with a backpack and staying overnight.

trekking

A long and difficult journey on foot; backpacking can be less strenuous and often includes travel between towns.

Word family

backpack noun

A bag carried on the back, used for travel or hiking.

backpacker noun

A person who travels or hikes with a backpack.

Commonly confused: backpacking or backpack?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “backpacking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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