spelunking

noun

spe·​lunk·​ing spi-ˈləŋ-kiŋ How to pronounce spelunking (audio)
ˈspē-ˌləŋ-
: the hobby or practice of exploring caves

Examples of spelunking in a Sentence

Her hobbies include hiking, biking, and spelunking. They love to go spelunking.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
So grab a jacket, pull up your GPS route and travel to these local historic spots for a little spelunking. Brooke Eberle, IndyStar, 27 July 2025 Meanwhile, Craig swoons over Austin, a local weatherman whose hang-out ideas — mushroom harvesting, urban spelunking, starting a punk rock garage band — give Craig genuine joy. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025 Suspenseful storytelling, deep spelunking, and granular control over everything from the size of your character’s chin to interactions between the world’s factions hooked players on the routines. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 May 2025 Here are several to explore—no spelunking skills required. Pat Tompkins, AFAR Media, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spelunking

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spelunking was in 1944

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spelunking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spelunking. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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