stride

1 of 2

verb

ˈstrīd 

strode ˈstrōd  ; stridden ˈstri-dᵊn  ; striding ˈstrī-diŋ 

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

1

: bestride, straddle

2

: to step over

3

: to move over or along with or as if with long measured steps

striding the boardwalk

strider

ˈstrī-dər 

noun

stride

2 of 2

noun

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

: stride piano

see also in stride, off stride

Synonyms of stride

Verb

• march

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

Verb

Out with a potential love interest one evening, in a packed Manhattan comedy club, Tess is startled when Alex strides up to the microphone. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025

After about 30 minutes, the commissioners strode out of the closed session. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 6 Dec. 2025

Noun

Victorian elegance meets the Atlantic coastline in Cape May, a National Historic Landmark City that hits its stride during the holidays. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2025

With the Chiefs sitting in field goal range, prepared to pull even in the fourth quarter, Mahomes threw the ball up for grabs at the goal line, hitting Daiyan Henley in stride. —Sam McDowell December 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English strīdan; akin to Middle Low German striden to straddle, Old High German strītan to quarrel

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing stride

• break (one's) stride
• get into one's stride
• hit one's stride
• in stride
• off one's stride
• off stride
• put (someone) off his/her stride
• stride for stride
• stride piano
• take (something) in one's stride
• take (something) in stride
• throw/knock (someone) off (his/her) stride

Rhymes for stride

• bide
• bride
• chide
• cried
• died
• dried
• dyed
• eid
• eide
• eyed
• flied
• fried

Kids Definition

stride

1 of 2 verb

ˈstrīd 

strode ˈstrōd  ; stridden ˈstrid-ᵊn  ; striding ˈstrīd-iŋ 

1

: to move with or as if with long even steps

strode across the room

2

: to take a very long step

strider

ˈstrīd-ər 

noun

stride

2 of 2 noun

1

: 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