walk

verb

\ˈwȯk

Definition of walk

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a obsolete : roam, wander

b of a spirit : to move about in visible form : appear

c of a ship : to make headway

2a : to move along on foot : advance by steps

b : to come or go easily or readily

c : to go on foot for exercise or pleasure

d : to go at a walk

3a : to pursue a course of action or way of life : conduct oneself : behave walk warily

b : to be or act in association : continue in union the British and American peoples will … walk together side by side … in peace— Sir Winston Churchill

c : walk out walked over problems with management

4 : to go to first base as a result of a base on balls

5 of an inanimate object

a : to move in a manner that is suggestive of walking

b : to stand with an appearance suggestive of strides pylons walking across the valley

6 of an astronaut : to move about in space outside a spacecraft

7 : to avoid criminal prosecution or conviction walked on a technicality

transitive verb

1a : to pass on foot or as if on foot through, along, over, or upon : traverse, perambulate walk the streets walk a tightrope

b : to perform or accomplish by going on foot walk guard

2a : to cause (an animal) to go at a walk : take for a walk walking a dog

b(1) : to cause to move by walking walked her bicycle up the hill

(2) : to haul (something, such as an anchor) by walking round the capstan

3 : to follow on foot for the purpose of measuring, surveying, or inspecting walk a boundary

4a : to accompany on foot : walk with walked her home

b : to compel to walk (as by a command)

c : to bring to a specified condition by walking walked us off our feet

5 : to move (an object) in a manner suggestive of walking

6 : to perform (a dance) at a walking pace walk a quadrille

7 : to give a base on balls to

walk away from

1 : to outrun or get the better of without difficulty

2 : to survive (an accident) with little or no injury

3 : to give up or leave behind willingly : abandon

walk off with

1a : to steal and take away

b : to take over unexpectedly from someone else : steal sense 1d walked off with the show

2 : to win or gain especially by outdoing one's competitors without difficulty

walk on

: to take advantage of : abuse

walk on eggshells or walk on eggs

: to exercise extreme caution

walk over

: to treat contemptuously

walk the plank

1 : to walk under compulsion over the side of a ship into the sea

2 : to resign an office or position under compulsion

walk through

1 : to go through (a theatrical role, a familiar activity, etc.) perfunctorily (as in an early stage of rehearsal)

2 : to guide (someone, such as a novice) through an unfamiliar or complex procedure step-by-step

3 : to deal with or carry out perfunctorily

walk

noun

Definition of walk (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : an act or instance of going on foot especially for exercise or pleasure go for a walk

b : space walk

2 : an accustomed place of walking : haunt

3 : a place designed for walking:

a : a railed platform above the roof of a dwelling house

b(1) : a path specially arranged or paved for walking

(2) : sidewalk

c : a public avenue for promenading : promenade

d : ropewalk

4 : a place or area of land in which animals feed and exercise with minimal restraint

5 : distance to be walked a quarter mile walk from here

6 British : a ceremonial procession

7 : manner of living : conduct, behavior

8a : the gait of a biped in which the feet are lifted alternately with one foot not clear of the ground before the other touches

b : the gait of a quadruped in which there are always at least two feet on the ground specifically : a 4-beat gait of a horse in which the feet strike the ground in the sequence near hind, near fore, off hind, off fore

c : a low rate of speed the shortage of raw materials slowed production to a walk

9 : a route regularly traversed by a person in the performance of a particular activity (such as patrolling, begging, or vending)

10 : characteristic manner of walking his walk is just like his father's

11a : social or economic status all walks of life

b(1) : range or sphere of action : field, province

(2) : vocation

12 : base on balls

13 : an easy victory won in a walk

walk in the park

: an easy or pleasurable experience

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about walk

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Examples of walk in a Sentence

Verb

Is your grandson walking yet? He walks home from school every day. It's not far; you can walk there in five minutes. It was a while after the accident before she could walk again. He walked away without saying goodbye! She turned and walked away from him. The driver walked away from the accident unharmed. They walk around the neighborhood every morning for exercise. We walked around the city all day seeing the sights. He walked to the store.

Noun

The cliff walk along the ocean is very popular. Many exotic plants can be found along the walk.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Try these: Hiking aficionados, stick to walking down the center of trails. — Kate Sheridan, SELF, "Here’s Exactly What to Do if a Tick Bites You," 14 July 2018 People sit, stand, walk: The stage area often looks like a play. — Alastair Macaulay, New York Times, "Review: At BalletX, a New Work Alive With Suspense and Surrealism," 13 July 2018 The beach, which is accessible only by walking down Gate Rd. off Highway 1 south of Lobitos, had been open to surfers and locals for generations and was prized for its dagger-like rock arch and dramatic cliffs. — SFChronicle.com, "5 hidden beaches around Half Moon Bay," 12 July 2018 Another man was arrested earlier this week for walking near the runway at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. — Michelle Gant, Fox News, "'Pumped up agitated guy' arrested at LAX after walking onto tarmac," 12 July 2018 Crsecanta Valley starting pitcher Shade Schaefer got into some trouble early, hitting Christian Kunz and Brandon Guzman in consecutive at-bats and walking Matthew Romeo to load the bases. — Jeff Tully, latimes.com, "Huge first inning lifts Crescenta Valley Major All-Stars to baseball title," 12 July 2018 But for families with young kids or adults who get around by walking or by bus, one mile can seem more like 10. — Bailey Loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "Dare to Care opens pop-up shop to address west Louisville food desert," 12 July 2018 In two Texas League starts since his promotion from the California League, Paddack has struck out nine, walked one and allowed three runs on three hits in 12 innings. — Jeff Sanders, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Logan Allen, Chris Paddack strong but Missions split double header," 14 July 2018 The newcomer walked away with 10 noms for its first season, putting the comedy in the top 15 ranking of shows with multiple honors and helping Netflix to topple HBO in total nominations for the first time in 18 years. — Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, "'GLOW' Team on Emmy Noms: Female-Led Shows Are "Not a Trend"," 12 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Richards’ start was arguably his best since April, pitching six shutout innings with four strikeouts while allowing just six baserunners – four hits and two walks. — Mike Persak, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Marlins shut out Phillies, 2-0, even weekend series with division leaders," 14 July 2018 Jeffress has allowed only 25 hits and 13 walks in 45 1/3 innings, with 47 strikeouts. — Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Better late than never: Brewers reliever Jeremy Jeffress gets the all-star honor he earned," 12 July 2018 More: How Scooter Gennett transformed from a Cincinnati Reds waiver claim into an All-Star Bauer shut down the Reds lineup for eight innings, allowing three hits and three walks. — Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Reds score 7 runs in the 9th inning, stun Cleveland Indians for comeback win," 10 July 2018 The righthander held the Mets to three runs on five hits and three walks over 6 1/3 innings in his major-league debut. — Matt Breen, Philly.com, "Phillies beat Mets as Enyel De Los Santos wins his major-league debut," 10 July 2018 The lineup assembled five runs and four hits, two walks and the legs of Toles. — Andy Mccullough, latimes.com, "Kershaw continues to make progress on the mound in Dodgers' 8-2 win over the Padres," 10 July 2018 Fulmer pitched seven innings, giving up three runs — two earned — on five hits, three walks and six strikeouts. — George Stoia, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers shut out by Texas Rangers, 3-0; Michael Fulmer now 3-8," 8 July 2018 Extra innings: Lopez lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and five walks. — Paul Sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "Tim Anderson sits out after getting hit by pitch but doesn't think it was related to April fracas with Astros," 6 July 2018 Abel limited the Razorbacks to two hits and two walks in nine stellar innings. — Matt Eppers, USA TODAY, "Freshman Kevin Abel pitches Oregon State past Arkansas to win College World Series," 28 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'walk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for walk

Verb

partly from Middle English walken (past welk, past participle walken), from Old English wealcan to roll, toss, journey about (past weolc, past participle wealcen) and partly from Middle English walkien (past walked, past participle walked), from Old English wealcian to roll up, muffle up; akin to Middle Dutch walken to knead, press, full