footstep

noun

foot·​step ˈfu̇t-ˌstep 

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

Synonyms

• footmark
• footprint
• step
• trace
• vestige

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

Tuchel is the latest man to be tasked with guiding England to a major trophy, following in the footsteps of Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello as the team’s third overseas coach. —George Ramsay, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024

Princess Diana was patron of Centrepoint during her time as a working royal, and Prince William followed in her footsteps by becoming patron in 2005. —Rachel Burchfield, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024

Following a runway appearance at Ralph Lauren’s Hamptons spectacle, walking figuratively and quite literally in her mother Christy Turlington’s footsteps, Burns now stars in the latest advertising campaign for Perfect Moment, photographed in Gstaad. —Zachary Weiss, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2024

Has walking in Christie’s footsteps re-awakened an urge to play Poirot once more? —Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

footstep

noun

foot·​step -ˌstep 

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