footstep

noun

foot·​step ˈfu̇t-ˌstep How to pronounce footstep (audio)
Synonyms of footstepnext
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If this happens, Britain would follow in the footsteps of Australia that implemented its nationwide ban in December 2025. Larry Magid, Mercury News, 2 July 2026 Now 29 years old, Lourdes continues to explore music in her mother's footsteps, and the two teamed up to write a song together. Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 2 July 2026 Luke Russert is returning to television, following in the footsteps of his father Tim Russert - once a household name on Sunday mornings in America. Jay Stahl, USA Today, 1 July 2026 The road to soccer was paved early as Pulisic followed in the footsteps of his parents. ABC News, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for footstep

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of footstep was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Footstep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footstep. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

footstep

noun
foot·​step -ˌstep How to pronounce footstep (audio)
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

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