toddle

verb

tod·​dle ˈtä-dᵊl How to pronounce toddle (audio)
toddled; toddling
ˈtäd-liŋ,
ˈtä-dᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce toddle (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to walk with short tottering steps in the manner of a young child
2
: to take a stroll : saunter
toddle noun

Examples of toddle in a Sentence

The little boy toddled across the room. I toddled off to the pub for a pint. She toddled off to bed.
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.
The sight of hundreds of tiny turtle hatchlings toddling their way down to the lapping ocean waves is the surest way to take your breath away. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025 The Smashing Machine star is far from the only person rooting for there to be mini Taylors and Travises toddling around in the near future. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2025 Adelia toddles over to her mom Alla, passing her while holding both the sweatshirt and the pants. Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025 War’s 1-year-old daughter is usually toddling around the store under the family’s watch. Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for toddle

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of toddle was circa 1600

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Toddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toddle. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

toddle

verb
tod·​dle ˈtäd-ᵊl How to pronounce toddle (audio)
toddled; toddling ˈtäd-liŋ How to pronounce toddle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
: to walk with short unsteady steps like a young child
toddle noun

More from Merriam-Webster on toddle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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