go picnicking

USAGE SUMMARY

'go picnicking' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to the activity of going to the outdoors with food and supplies to have a picnic. For example: "We decided to go picnicking in the park on Saturday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

In Italy, at Easter many people eat in restaurants and the day after Easter most people go picnicking.

BMC Infectious Diseases

ONCE when Marlene Snecinski of Simsbury went for a walk in the woods, it was to go picnicking or birding, sometimes trekking to a scenic summit.

The New York Times

Michael Klemens, a Rye resident who is director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Metropolitan Conservation Alliance, said, "Ed was way ahead of his time in recognizing that the county parks are not just places for humans to go picnicking and bike riding, but are crucial habitats with thousands of species.

The New York Times

"Hand in Glove" sees two work friends, Winifred and Millicent, go picnicking; the latter has just split from her intended, Nigel, "and felt that the last tiny bit of meaning had ebbed from her life (apart, of course, from her job)." These are sensible, ordinary women, who wear "sweaters in plain colours," but the semi-rural idyll of their day begins to rearrange itself.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

ON ISRAELI independence day, when most of the country goes picnicking, two groups of citizens have adopted a curious ritual.

The Economist

When they went picnicking on the Bund, Shanghai's waterfront, about 250 people gathered to watch them.

The Guardian

They would go on picnics and hiking in beautiful, long dresses and not worry about it.

The New York Times

Now that you've started a design company, do you still have time to go on picnics?

The New York Times - Magazine

Now it is where the family keeps its camels and where my cousins often go to picnic.

The New Yorker

Sometimes, though, the families found time to go on picnics, to barbecues or to the beach.

The New York Times

He and his wife used to go to picnics a great deal.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "go picnicking" when you want to emphasize the act of going somewhere to have a picnic, combining the journey and the meal in one expression.

Common error

Don't use "go picnicking" if the context already implies travel. Simply saying "we had a picnic" might suffice if the location is understood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "go picnicking" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a gerund phrase when used as a noun (e.g., "Going picnicking is a fun activity.") or as part of a verb construction describing an activity. Ludwig confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "go picnicking" is a grammatically sound and usable verb phrase that describes the act of traveling to a location to have a picnic. According to Ludwig, it's a valid expression, although not overly common. It appears most frequently in News & Media sources, with a neutral to informal register. If you're looking for alternatives, phrases like "have a picnic" or "go for a picnic" offer similar meanings. While correct, be mindful of redundancy; if the context makes it clear that travel is involved, simply referring to "having a picnic" may suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have a picnic

Focuses on the activity itself, rather than the act of going.

go on a picnic excursion

Emphasizes the exploratory or adventurous aspect of the picnic.

plan a picnic trip

Highlights the planning and travel involved.

go for an outing

A broader term that may or may not involve food.

embark on a picnic

Adds a sense of adventure or purpose to the activity.

attend a picnic

Suggests joining a pre-organized picnic event.

partake in a picnic

A more formal way of saying to participate in a picnic.

organize a picnic

Focuses on the preparation and management of the picnic.

enjoy an open-air meal

Emphasizes the dining aspect of picnicking in a natural setting.

go alfresco dining

Uses a more refined term for outdoor dining.

FAQs

How can I use "go picnicking" in a sentence?

You can use "go picnicking" to describe the action of traveling to a location to have a picnic. For example: "We decided to "go picnicking" in the park this weekend".

What is a similar phrase to "go picnicking"?

A similar phrase is to "have a picnic", which focuses more on the activity of eating outdoors rather than the act of traveling to do so.

Is it correct to say "went picnicking"?

Yes, "went picnicking" is the past tense form of ""go picnicking"" and is grammatically correct. For example, "We "went picnicking" by the river last Sunday".

What's the difference between "go for a picnic" and "go picnicking"?

"Go for a picnic" and ""go picnicking"" are quite similar, but the latter emphasizes the activity itself more directly, while the former may slightly emphasize the destination or outing.