snowshoe

1 of 2

noun

snow·​shoe ˈsnō-ˌshü How to pronounce snowshoe (audio)
: 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
snowshoer noun

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
Winter attracts a quarter of the year’s total tourists—folks who brave the cold and snow to ski, snowshoe, or climb up Johnston Canyon wearing ice cleats. Lisa Kadane, AFAR Media, 1 Apr. 2025 Guests can explore wild trekking paths in spring and summer or snowshoe through the hills in winter, per the listing. Melissa Santos, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
No permit or pass is needed to snowshoe in state forests. Tom Schardin, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2024 The first stop where the Northern Lights could make an appearance is in Narvik, a small port city within the Arctic Circle where cruisers can participate in a Sámi Northern Lights ceremony, go snowshoeing in the mountains, or ride the cable car at Narvikfjellet. Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 15 Apr. 2025 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 24 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

snowshoe

1 of 2 noun
snow·​shoe -ˌshü How to pronounce snowshoe (audio)
: 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!