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 their father's footsteps

Synonyms of footstep

• 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 the footsteps of her fellow figure skater Apolo Anton Ohno, Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi and her partner, Ballas, set a record for the highest premiere score and went on to dominate season 6 of DWTS in 2008. —Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025

Serena joined her father on the plane to follow in her father’s footsteps, according to Ignite the Fire. —Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025

Following too closely in its protagonist’s footsteps, The Queen of Versailles presents only two options — tough but spiritually fulfilling material deprivation or unconstrained acquisitiveness. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025

Now 20, she is said to be following in her mother’s footsteps studying design in New York. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 10 Nov. 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