walking

1 of 2

noun

walk·​ing ˈwȯ-kiŋ How to pronounce walking (audio)
1
: the action of one that walks
2
: the condition of a surface for one going on foot
the walking is slippery

walking

2 of 2

adjective

1
a
: able to walk : ambulatory
the walking wounded
b
: being the personification of a nonhuman quality or thing
a walking encyclopedia
2
a
: used for or in walking
walking shoes
b
: characterized by or consisting of the action of walking
a walking tour
3
: that moves or appears to move in a manner suggestive of walking
especially : that swings or rocks back and forth
walking beam
4
: guided or operated by a person on foot
a walking plow

Examples of walking in a Sentence

Noun She goes walking every day in the park. Adjective a good pair of walking shoes They were going at a walking pace. She is a walking disaster.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Living in Paris involves a lot of walking, and Parisians are smart about their footwear. Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2024 The beds are placed close together with limited walking room — a single narrow lane runs through the room with beds on either side. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 1 Mar. 2024 There is also proximity to the area’s dining, shopping, and entertainment scene, including Fareway Meat Market, a boutique shopping experience within walking distance of the community. The Willows | A Covenant – Rodrock Homes Community, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2024 Fortunately, that home is within walking distance of a trending Silicon Valley downtown. Pat Kapowich, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024 Faster walking has a greater impact on reducing insulin resistance by making the cells more insulin-sensitive. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 22 Feb. 2024 There’s no walking to the 14,410-foot top of Mount Rainier. Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2024 The average daily walking distance is between six and 16 miles, and the price starts at JPY 548,000 ($3,650). Everett Potter, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Hank enrolled in the local 100-year-old elementary school, which is within walking distance of their house. Christine Lennon, Sunset Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The property is also within short walking distance of some recognizable hot spots: the Staples Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center. Adam Lapetina, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2020 These people are all within walking distance of one another in Rhinebeck. Ben Brantley, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2020 On smoother surfaces like stones and leaves, the ants traveled at about 15 inches per second — about 80 times faster than their average walking speed. Cara Giaimo, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2020 The ranking cites Montrose's offbeat award-winning restaurants and bars that offer a look into different world cultures all within walking distance of the neighborhood as the main reason for its No. Rebecca Hennes, Houston Chronicle, 4 Dec. 2019 An adjoining shopping center followed in 2018, with a Publix and shops and restaurants, including Cooper’s Hawk Winery and BurgerFi, all within walking distance of the new townhouses and apartments. Lisa J. Huriash, sun-sentinel.com, 17 Oct. 2019 Germantown resident Jan Miller agreed that the village should be a real friendly walking place with shops, restaurants and a great sidewalk in five years. Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2019 The hospital workers, patients and visitors also will benefit from nearby housing, food and other amenities that will include a walking path, outdoor events and perhaps a farmer’s market. Meredith Cohn, baltimoresun.com, 14 Aug. 2019 And three of the homes, all within walking distance of each other on Fairwood Avenue, will be featured in a Preservation Action Council tour on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'walking.' 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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of walking was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near walking

Cite this Entry

“Walking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/walking. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

walking

adjective
walk·​ing ˈwȯ-kiŋ How to pronounce walking (audio)
: able to walk : ambulatory
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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