treadmill

noun

tread·​mill ˈtred-ˌmil How to pronounce treadmill (audio)
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
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.
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

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Time Traveler
The first known use of treadmill was in 1822

Cite this Entry

“Treadmill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treadmill. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

treadmill

noun
tread·​mill ˈtred-ˌmil How to pronounce treadmill (audio)
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 How to pronounce treadmill (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on treadmill

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!