ambulate

verb

am·​bu·​late ˈam-byə-ˌlāt 

ambulated; ambulating

intransitive verb

: to move from place to place : walk

She was hopeful that the surgery would improve her ability to ambulate.

—Anita Lewis and Joyce Sasson Levy

Synonyms

• foot (it)
• hoof (it)
• leg (it)
• pad
• step
• traipse
• tread
• walk

Examples of ambulate in a Sentence

a progressive disease that compromises a patient's ability to ambulate

Recent Examples on the Web

Monitoring, toileting, hand-feeding, repositioning, ambulating, medication administration and wound care are left up to family caregivers. —Maria J Silveira, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2024

Following the film screening, guests ambulated across the street to the lavish Baccarat Hotel for champagne flutes and a raw bar. —Zachary Schwartz, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2024

When faced with the loss of a leg, ambulating again is essential to recovery both physically and psychologically. —Jothy Rosenberg, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023

These rolling toys work on carpet, tile and wood floors and ambulate in a similar way to natural prey. —Jessica Hartshorn, Good Housekeeping, 14 June 2022

Sternburg who had recently recovered from a foot injury, was reappreciating her ability to ambulate at the same time as the world had withdrawn. —Tom Teicholz, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2021

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin ambulātus, past participle of ambulāre "to go by foot, walk, walk for pleasure or exercise, travel" — more at amble entry 1

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

ambulate

intransitive verb

am·​bu·​late -ˌlāt 

ambulated; ambulating

: to move from place to place

the patient was allowed to ambulate in her room

ambulation

ˌam-byə-ˈlā-shən 

noun