: a usually lightweight platform for the foot that is designed to enable a person to walk on soft snow without sinking and that typically consists of an oblong frame crossed with leather thongs or synthetic material

Illustration of snowshoe

Illustration of snowshoe

snowshoe

2 of 2

verb

snowshoed; snowshoeing

intransitive verb

: to travel on snowshoes

Examples of snowshoe in a Sentence

Verb We snowshoed through the woods.
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.
Noun
When Rockwell brought in outdoorsy ephemera like boat oars, snowshoes, and flags, the clients weren’t sure about it. Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 16 Apr. 2026 There are also locations to rent snowshoes and canoes, and places to swim, picnic and ride a boat. Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Verb
Brave souls who come in winter can snowshoe or cross-country ski the park's trails. Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 1 June 2026 The yurt system is open year-round and is accessible by hiking trail in the summer and by skiing or snowshoeing in winter. Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for snowshoe

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1666, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of snowshoe was in 1666

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Snowshoe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snowshoe. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

snowshoe

1 of 2 noun
: a light frame (as of wood or aluminum) strung with a net that is attached to the foot to prevent sinking in soft snow

snowshoe

2 of 2 verb
snowshoed; snowshoeing
: to travel on snowshoes

More from Merriam-Webster on snowshoe

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