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

Other Words from walk 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

Following the program and gun salute, Trump, Macron and their wives walked to an overlook above Omaha Beach, the scene of the bloodiest fighting. — Kevin Freking And Jonathan Lemire, chicagotribune.com, "President Trump tells D-Day veterans they're among greatest Americans," 6 June 2019 Security camera videos at the apartment complex showed the group running to a waiting Ford Fusion, but Warren walked toward it calmly before getting in the front passenger seat and leaving the area. — Wayne K. Roustan, sun-sentinel.com, "Friends lead cops to suspected killer, investigators say," 6 June 2019 The book’s vignettes, many only a paragraph long, are like flashes of memory: a boy walking the streets of Sarajevo, a boy lying sick on the couch, a boy being bullied. — Ryu Spaeth, The New Republic, "Aleksandar Hemon’s Lost Eden," 6 June 2019 Insider: Which of their free agents should the Pacers keep and let walk away Wednesday’s workout for the Pacers was Morgan’s sixth, coming on the heels of a workout with the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. — Tyler Kraft, Indianapolis Star, "Juwan Morgan faces questions about 3-point ability at Pacers workout," 5 June 2019 Two injured people found walking along a road early Wednesday told authorities of the wreck. — CBS News, "6 El Savador migrants killed, others critically injured in SUV accident in Texas," 5 June 2019 He was photographed walking to work, dispensed with his predecessor’s long motorcade, quit his other posts and banned first-class travel for ministers. — David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, "New Palestinian Premier Warns of a ‘Very Hot Summer’," 5 June 2019 In 19 1/3 major league innings, Martin posted a 5.59 ERA, walked 12 and allowed eight home runs. — Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle, "Astros option Corbin Martin to Triple-A Round Rock, recall Reymin Guduan," 5 June 2019 Ranked among national leaders in several offensive categories, including on-base percentage (.575), slugging percentage (.751) and walks (school-record 76). — Dennis Waszak Jr., The Denver Post, "Orioles draft Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman with No. 1 pick," 4 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Smith lasted five innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits — including three home runs — and two walks, while striking out two. — Wells Dusenbury, sun-sentinel.com, "Caleb Smith heading to the IL; Marlins MLB draft draws strong reviews," 7 June 2019 Take a walk on the racetrack's wild side Marty Pearl, Special to the Courier Journal It's been a long, confusing month or so in the world of horse racing, and all the headlines may have left you a little dazed. — Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, "Two Truths and a Lie: Looking back at a crazy 2019 Triple Crown ahead of the Belmont," 6 June 2019 Take a walk on the art side For a third year, Sculpture Milwaukee marks Wisconsin Avenue with more than a score of sizable sculptures by premium artists. — Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "8 things you should be doing in Milwaukee this weekend, from PrideFest to Crusherfest to Hello Kitty," 6 June 2019 The city of Deer Park will soon invite residents to take a nature walk and get a panoramic view of some of the region’s wildlife and wetlands. — Yvette Orozco, Houston Chronicle, "Midsummer opening predicted for Deer Park nature area," 5 June 2019 Cooked rice from the night before still not cooled because the deep pans were stacked atop each other in the walk-in. — David J. Neal, miamiherald, "Two-hundred rodent poops. Roaches in a microwave. Why these restaurants failed inspection," 4 June 2019 According to Angel, the family believed Jessica was going on a walk and would be back soon. — Bianca Hillier, NBC News, "Mother of two Jessica Ashmore still missing two weeks after disappearing from South Carolina," 3 June 2019 Take a walk or a long train ride to help get your mind off things. — Randon Rosenbohm, Allure, "What June's Capricorn Horoscope Predictions Mean for You," 29 May 2019 From the different types and costs to the pros and cons, here's what homeowners should consider before taking a walk on the tiled side. — Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living, "Tile Countertops: Pros, Cons, and Everything Else You Should Know," 31 Jan. 2019

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