footstep

noun

foot·​step ˈfu̇t-ˌstep How to pronounce footstep (audio)
1
: the mark of the foot : track
2
a
: tread
b
: distance covered by a step : pace
3
: a step on which to ascend or descend
4
: a way of life, conduct, or action
followed in his father's footsteps

Examples of footstep in a Sentence

She slowly took one footstep toward the frightened animal. It's five footsteps from the bedroom to the bathroom.
Recent Examples on the Web Following in the footsteps of AI chatbots and still image-generators, some AI video enthusiasts say the emerging technology could one day upend entertainment, enabling you to choose your own movie with customizable story lines and endings. Matt O'Brien, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 The commitment follows in the footsteps of some smaller indie labels such as Facet Records and Good Boy Records, as well as individual artists such as Kip Moore, who in 2017 pledged an annual bonus for songwriters. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 Feb. 2024 Within weeks there could be more wiggle room for negotiations, and should Osimhen follow in Zielinski’s footsteps, over $21 million in wages will be freed up. David Ferrini, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 One of her grandchildren, Emmy Russell, appears to be following in her grandmother’s footsteps with a career in music. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 He is survived by his wife, Susan Schneider, and three children, including Zelda Williams, who has followed in her father's footsteps through show business. Katie Rife, EW.com, 27 Feb. 2024 All award shows should follow in their footsteps and make categories genderless. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024 Charlie Woods, Tiger’s kid, braves the impossible footsteps: Charlie Woods, 15-year-old son of 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, attempted to qualify for his first PGA Tour event and proved not even close to ready, collapsing in the spotlight. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2024 Following in the footsteps of major artist-athletes like Shaquille O’Neal aka DJ Diesel and Damian Lillard aka Dame D.O.L.L.A., Chad Thomas aka Major Nine is looking to continue leveling up his athletic and musical careers while prioritizing independence at every turn. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 23 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of footstep was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near footstep

Cite this Entry

“Footstep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footstep. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

footstep

noun
foot·​step -ˌstep How to pronounce footstep (audio)
1
a
: a step of the foot
b
: the distance covered by a step : pace
2
a
: the mark of the foot
b
: the sound of a footstep
3
: a step on which to go up or down

More from Merriam-Webster on footstep

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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