treadmill
noun
tread·mill
ˈtred-ˌmil 
1
a
: a device having an endless belt on which an individual walks or runs in place for exercise or physiological testing
b
: a mill worked by an animal treading an endless belt
c
: a mill worked by persons treading on steps on the periphery of a wide wheel having a horizontal axis and used formerly in prison punishment
2
: a wearisome or monotonous routine resembling continued activity on a treadmill
the office treadmill
Examples of treadmill in a Sentence
the treadmill of exhausting family schedules
the treadmill of the morning commute to work
Recent Examples on the Web
There are rows of bikes and treadmills, weight training equipment, a lap pool, seven tennis courts and three pickleball courts.
—
Katie Sweeney, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
And now Llamas is on the ultimate treadmill to oblivion — network news.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 28 June 2025
Technology has taken over with simulators and treadmills and sensors hunting for spare fractions of a second to eliminate.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
That said, most of these studies used sidewalk excursions and treadmill walks as their experimental focus, and walking on a flat road is very different from hiking.
—Korin Miller, Outside Online, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for treadmill
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Katie Sweeney, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
And now Llamas is on the ultimate treadmill to oblivion — network news.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 28 June 2025
Technology has taken over with simulators and treadmills and sensors hunting for spare fractions of a second to eliminate.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
That said, most of these studies used sidewalk excursions and treadmill walks as their experimental focus, and walking on a flat road is very different from hiking.
—Korin Miller, Outside Online, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for treadmill
Cite this Entry
“Treadmill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treadmill. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
treadmill
noun
tread·mill
ˈtred-ˌmil
1
a
: a device moved by persons treading on steps set around the rim of a wide wheel or by animals walking on an endless belt
b
: a device having an endless belt on which an individual walks or runs in place for exercise or medical testing
2
: a tiring or monotonous routine
Medical Definition
treadmill
noun
tread·mill
ˈtred-ˌmil
: a device having an endless belt on which an individual walks or runs in place that is used for exercise and in tests of physiological functions see stress test
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