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Definition of excursion

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In Latin, the prefix ex- means "out of" and the verb currere means "to run." When the two are put together, they form the verb excurrere , literally "to run out" or "to extend." Excurrere gave rise not only to excursion but also to excurrent (an adjective for things having channels or currents that run outward) and excursus (meaning "an appendix or digression that contains further exposition of some point or topic"). Other words deriving from currere include corridor , curriculum , and among newer words, parkour .

Examples of excursion in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'excursion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Latin excursion-, excursio , from excurrere

circa 1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Dictionary Entries Near excursion

excursional

Cite this Entry

“Excursion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excursion. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of excursion.

from Latin excursio, excursion- "a going out," from excurrere "to run out, make an excursion, extend," from ex- "out, forth" and currere "to run" — related to current

Medical Definition

Medical definition of excursion, more from merriam-webster on excursion.

Nglish: Translation of excursion for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of excursion for Arabic Speakers

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Meaning of excursion in English

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• break-journey
• circumnavigation

excursion | American Dictionary

Examples of excursion, translations of excursion.

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of a yellowish-brown or greenish-brown colour

Cooking or hitting the books? (Idioms with ‘book’)

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• excursion into something
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[ ik- skur -zh uh n , -sh uh n ]

a pleasure excursion; a scientific excursion.

weekend excursions to mountain resorts.

an excursion of tourists.

excursions into futile philosophizing.

• Physics. the displacement of a body or a point from a mean position or neutral value, as in an oscillation.
• an accidental increase in the power level of a reactor, usually forcing its emergency shutdown.
• the range of stroke of any moving part.
• the stroke itself.
• Obsolete. a sally or raid.

verb (used without object)

• to go on or take an excursion.

an excursion fare; an excursion bus.

/ -ʒən; ɪkˈskɜːʃən /

• a short outward and return journey, esp for relaxation, sightseeing, etc; outing
• a group of people going on such a journey

an excursion ticket

an excursion into politics

• (formerly) a raid or attack
• a movement from an equilibrium position, as in an oscillation
• the magnitude of this displacement
• the normal movement of a movable bodily organ or part from its resting position, such as the lateral movement of the lower jaw
• machinery the locus of a point on a moving part, esp the deflection of a whirling shaft

Other Words From

• ex·cursion·al ex·cursion·ary adjective
• preex·cursion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of excursion 1

Example Sentences

It’s important that your significant other or family is supportive, since your new obsession will likely become all-consuming, and most of your outdoor excursions will now revolve around searching for animal poop in the woods.

Insulated, waterproof footwear like the Paninaro Omni-Heat Tall Boot will go a long way in making your snow bike or snowshoe excursion a treat rather than a trial.

More time outdoors has been great for dialing in our kit for weekend excursions.

The thought of being able to knock out a three-day excursion with just a single carry-on is tantalizing.

I’ve spent the past two months testing the pack on a handful of short camp-outs and a seven-day family surf excursion, and the SEG42 delivered the organization I desperately needed.

It is disappointing and, frankly, frightening that Thompson walked away from his repugnant Sea World excursion scot-free.

Several events specifically cater to kids, making this a fun excursion for the whole family.

I learned a lot about myself on that excursion, and from the trip as a whole.

There was, instead, a nauseating excursion into base and sad fantasies.

While a two-day feeding frenzy makes for a fun excursion, the human body is only capable of so much consumption.

Out gets Uncle David, looking brown and healthy after his northern excursion.

The other day an excursion was arranged to Sondershausen, a town about three hours' ride from Weimar in the cars.

We got back to Weimar about eight in the evening, and this delicious excursion, like all others, had to end.

To my friends ever since I have not failed to recommend the passage of the Butterley tunnel as a desirable pleasure excursion.

From childhood I had longed to see something of the world, and this excursion to Paris was the first gratification of that wish.

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ex·cur·sion

Ex•cur•sion.

A journey is the process of travelling from one place to another by land, air, or sea.

A trip is the process of travelling from one place to another, staying there, usually for a short time, and coming back again.

A voyage is a long journey from one place to another in a ship or spacecraft.

An excursion is a short trip made either as a tourist or in order to do a particular thing.

You make or go on a journey.

You take or go on a trip.

You make a voyage.

You go on an excursion.

Be Careful! Don't use 'do' with any of these words. Don't say, for example, ' We did a bus trip '.

• alarums and excursions
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• Commonwealth of Australia
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• excretory organ
• excretory product
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• excruciating
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• Excuse me, that's my seat
• Excuse me, which bus goes to ...?
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Definitions of 'excursion', pronunciation of 'excursion'.

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English usage

Synonyms of 'excursion', collocations with 'excursion', examples of 'excursion'  in a sentence, translations of 'excursion', 'excursion' in other languages.

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Definition of excursion noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

• trip an act of traveling from one place to another, and usually back again: a business trip a five-minute trip by taxi
• journey an act of traveling from one place to another, especially when they are far apart: a long and difficult journey across the mountains
• A trip usually involves you going to a place and back again; a journey is usually one-way. A trip is often shorter than a journey , although it does not have to be: a trip to New York a round-the-world trip. It is often short in time, even if it is long in distance. Journey is more often used when the traveling takes a long time and is difficult.
• tour a journey made for pleasure during which several different places are visited: a tour of California
• commute the regular trip that a person makes when they travel to work and back home again: a two-hour commute into downtown Washington
• expedition an organized journey with a particular purpose, especially to find out about a place that is not well known: the first expedition to the South Pole
• excursion a short trip made for pleasure, especially one that has been organized for a group of people: We went on an all-day excursion to the island.
• outing a short trip made for pleasure or education, usually with a group of people and lasting no more than a day: My project team organized an afternoon outing to celebrate.
• an overseas trip/journey/tour/expedition
• a bus/train trip/journey/tour
• to go on a(n) trip/journey/tour/expedition/excursion/outing
• to set out/off on a(n) trip/journey/tour/expedition/excursion
• to take a(n) trip/journey/expedition/excursion

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

• 2 excursion into something ( formal ) a short period of trying a new or different activity After a brief excursion into drama, he concentrated on his main interest, which was poetry.

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