1
: to stand astride
2
: to move with or as if with long steps
strode across the room
3
: to take a very long step
2
: to step over
3
: to move over or along with or as if with long measured steps
striding the boardwalk
1
a
: a cycle of locomotor movements (as of a horse) completed when the feet regain the initial relative positions
also
: the distance traversed in a stride
b
: the most effective natural pace : maximum competence or capability
—often used in the phrase hit one's stride
2
: a long step
3
: an act of striding
4
: a stage of progress : advance
made great strides toward their goal
5
: a manner of striding
6
Examples of stride in a Sentence
Verb
She strode across the room towards me.
a gang of armed men strode into the bank and approached the teller
Noun
She crossed the room in only a few strides.
He was standing only a few strides away from me.
He has a distinctive bouncy stride.
She entered the room with a confident stride.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
Jones strode into the Superdome on Sunday wearing something out of the pages of a Euro fashion magazine — an Army-green linen suit with a floppy belt and no socks.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
Their offense is humming, but their defense, which made major strides last year, needs plenty of improvement.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stride
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.
Verb
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer strode to the scene as armed officers raced past him.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
Jones strode into the Superdome on Sunday wearing something out of the pages of a Euro fashion magazine — an Army-green linen suit with a floppy belt and no socks.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Since taking over, Cutter has made strides to help the society run more efficiently, including a new donor management system.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
Their offense is humming, but their defense, which made major strides last year, needs plenty of improvement.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stride
Cite this Entry
“Stride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stride. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stride
2 of 2 noun1
: a step or the distance covered by a step
2
: a way of striding
3
: the most effective natural pace
—often used in the phrase hit one's stride
4
: a step forward : advance
made great strides toward their goal
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share