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.
Now 19, Jase has continued to follow his dad’s footsteps by attending the same Big Ten school as the older Richardson and getting selected in the first round of the NBA draft by a team his father played for — the Magic. Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 June 2025 The effort is following in the footsteps of the Lake Effect project that was launched in 2013 and brought around 40 artists to the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District to transform 19 walls and alleys into canvases. Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2025 Handsome, kind and smart, Min Young-sun was studying at the Chuncheon National University of Education, following in the footsteps of his father, the principal of Dangnim Elementary School. Gawon Bae, CNN Money, 27 June 2025 That choice has seemingly paid off: she’s landed a full-time teaching job at her alma mater, following in the footsteps of the charming instructor who’d advised her on her thesis, a guy with a name straight out of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Preston Decker (Louis Cancelmi). Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 27 June 2025 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 9 Jul. 2025.

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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