footstep

noun

foot·​step ˈfu̇t-ˌstep How to pronounce footstep (audio)
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 his 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.
The secret son of Maximus, the eponymous gladiator portrayed by Russell Crowe in the 2000 movie, Lucius must retrace his father’s footsteps, achieving fame as an enslaved fighter driven by his desire for revenge against his family’s killers. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2024 Snoop follows in the footsteps of previous AML performers such as Big Sean and Jelly Roll this season. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 21 Nov. 2024 On Wednesday, Richard Gere followed in the footsteps of Cher by flustering an unsuspecting Today Show host during a live interview. Shania Russell, EW.com, 20 Nov. 2024 According to Merle, Marcus had ambitions of becoming a welder, following in the footsteps of his father and mother, Venishaah, who were both pipe fitters. Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 15 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near footstep

Cite this Entry

“Footstep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footstep. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on footstep

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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