backpack
verb · noun
Simple meaning
A knapsack, sometimes mounted on a light frame, but always supported by straps, worn on a person's back for the purpose of carrying things.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
bakpakSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈbækpæk
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
intransitive
To hike and camp overnight in backcountry with one's gear carried in a backpack.
“Every summer they are backpacking in the Rockies.”
intransitive
To engage in low-cost, generally urban, travel with minimal luggage and frugal accommodation.
noun
A knapsack, sometimes mounted on a light frame, but always supported by straps, worn on a person's back for the purpose of carrying things, especially when hiking, or on a student's back when carrying books.
A similarly placed item containing a parachute or other life-support equipment.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C1 · Advanced (estimated)
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Typical Use
- General and technical use
More ways to use backpack
- “Every summer they are backpacking in the Rockies.”verb
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Inflected forms
Grammatical variations of the same word.
Carrying something in a pack on the back.
A hiker who wears a backpack.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A tent that can be carried in a backpack.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
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