treadmill
noun
tread·mill
ˈtred-ˌmil 
1
a
: a device having an endless belt on which an individual walks or runs in place for exercise or physiological testing
b
: a mill worked by an animal treading an endless belt
c
: a mill worked by persons treading on steps on the periphery of a wide wheel having a horizontal axis and used formerly in prison punishment
2
: a wearisome or monotonous routine resembling continued activity on a treadmill
the office treadmill
Examples of treadmill in a Sentence
the treadmill of exhausting family schedules
the treadmill of the morning commute to work
Recent Examples on the Web
That certainly includes walking and walking on a treadmill.
—
Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
During a challenge, contestants had to stay running on a treadmill for 30 seconds, but Joelle struggled.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Aug. 2025
To be included, the participants also had to have medial knee pain of three points or greater on an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS), be able to walk safely on a treadmill without an aid for 25 minutes and have a BMI of less than 35 kg/m2 (obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or more).
—New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2025
Swift famously trained for the show by performing the entire career-spanning set while running on a treadmill, something Kelce said was super intense, even for a dedicated athlete like him.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for treadmill
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Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
During a challenge, contestants had to stay running on a treadmill for 30 seconds, but Joelle struggled.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Aug. 2025
To be included, the participants also had to have medial knee pain of three points or greater on an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS), be able to walk safely on a treadmill without an aid for 25 minutes and have a BMI of less than 35 kg/m2 (obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or more).
—New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2025
Swift famously trained for the show by performing the entire career-spanning set while running on a treadmill, something Kelce said was super intense, even for a dedicated athlete like him.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for treadmill
Cite this Entry
“Treadmill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treadmill. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
treadmill
noun
tread·mill
ˈtred-ˌmil
1
a
: a device moved by persons treading on steps set around the rim of a wide wheel or by animals walking on an endless belt
b
: a device having an endless belt on which an individual walks or runs in place for exercise or medical testing
2
: a tiring or monotonous routine
Medical Definition
treadmill
noun
tread·mill
ˈtred-ˌmil
: a device having an endless belt on which an individual walks or runs in place that is used for exercise and in tests of physiological functions see stress test
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