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

Family members have seen at least some of the boys from behind a glass isolation barrier, and Jedsada said doctors may let the boys walk around their beds Tuesday. — Time, "Divers Begin Third Mission to Free Remaining Boys Trapped in a Flooded Thai Cave," 10 July 2018 Family members have seen at least some of the boys from behind a glass isolation barrier, and Jesada said doctors may let the boys walk around their beds Tuesday. — Author: Kaweewit Kaewjinda, Anchorage Daily News, "3rd mission underway at Thai cave, aims to rescue all left," 10 July 2018 The server tried to walk away, but the situation turned violent. — Chelsea Prince, ajc, "Applebee’s waitress was stabbed after she brushed up against diner’s leg, cops say," 13 July 2018 Borjas was able to snap a photo of the woman, who began to walk away. — Brittny Mejia, latimes.com, "Arrest made in brutal beating of 91-year-old man," 11 July 2018 Be sure to walk by the Pumpkin House, a Victorian adorned with more than 3,000 gourds. — Catherine Strawn, Country Living, "17 Amazing Halloween Celebrations Across America," 11 July 2018 Aaron Judge won last year’s event, in which Joel Embiid walked away with a couple of souvenirs. — Ed Barkowitz, Philly.com, "Baseball All-Star Game rosters, TV, streaming info, stats and some Phillies' history," 9 July 2018 Duda lingered in the batter's box to question plate umpire Will Little before walking away. — Maria Torres, kansascity, "'I don't know what's going on': Yost frustrated with umpires in Royals' loss to Twins," 9 July 2018 Plus, Kate has totally mastered carrying a sleeping baby while walking in stilettos. — Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, "Body Language Experts Analyze the Royal Family at Prince Louis's Christening," 9 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Backup catcher Bryan Holaday filled in for Realmuto, reaching six times in three games and stroking the walk-off single on Monday night. — Matthew Defranks, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Catcher J.T. Realmuto returns to Marlins as an All-Star and a father," 13 July 2018 In our hit podcast series, successful women from all walks of life share their financial and career tips to help empower women and improve their financial savvy. — WSJ, "Nicole Miller: You Always Have to Reinvent Yourself," 10 July 2018 While doing research for the book, Schorow discovered that people from all walks of life visited the Combat Zone. — Emily Sweeney, BostonGlobe.com, "Five things you didn’t know about Boston’s Combat Zone," 26 June 2018 Now, the colorful, 41-foot boats attract athletes from all walks of life — from construction workers, to doctors, to cancer survivors and artists. — Lauren Lumpkin, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore dragon boat competition unites racers from all walks of life," 24 June 2018 Stylish local couples and foursomes of all walks of creative life treat this as their second dining room. — Bon Appetit, "Admiralgade 26," 18 June 2018 Our goal was to share it with all walks of people in and around the industry. — Kristin Tice Studeman, Vogue, "The Jumpsuit That’s Making Its Way Into the Coolest Kitchens Across America," 18 June 2018 The filmmakers get access to LGBT athletes from all walks of life, from high school to the pros. — David Lewis, San Francisco Chronicle, "Frameline offers movie feast during Pride Week," 14 June 2018 But that patience has yet to translate to his reading of pitches, as Hernandez’s strikeout rate (28.7 percent) remains sky-high and his walk rate (6.7 percent) is almost as poor. — Ben Pope, Philly.com, "Phillies prospect Jan Hernandez hopes all-star selection puts him 'on the map'," 11 July 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