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

• footprint
• step

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 her big siblings’ footsteps, Emma studied at Middle Georgia State University, per her family's Instagram. —Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025

More importantly, Empire at War has a flavor of its own, as Petroglyph didn’t try to follow in the footsteps of Galactic Battlegrounds and other previous Star Wars RTS games. —Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025

Idaho politics and family dynamics One of those children, now 37-year-old Camille Blaylock, has followed her fathers’ footsteps into state politics. —Idaho Statesman, 13 Oct. 2025

Curt Cignetti spent 30 years as an assistant in major college football but had to follow his father’s footsteps to finally get a head coaching job. —Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for footstep

• bicep
• doorstep
• instep
• lockstep
• misstep
• sidestep
• cep
• hep
• pep
• prep
• rep
• sep

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