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
Portable treadmills When the weather gets too cold or wet, move the walk indoors.
—
Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Walking at an incline on a treadmill or walking uphill outdoors places less stress on the joints and is less impactful; thus, it may be better tolerated than walking on flat surfaces.
—Tim Petrie, Verywell Health, 24 Sep. 2025
Plus, this treadmill folds up well and doesn’t take up much space.
—Claire Harmeyer, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
This can put businesses and employees on a treadmill dialed up to the top speed, rushing to keep up.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for treadmill
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Walking at an incline on a treadmill or walking uphill outdoors places less stress on the joints and is less impactful; thus, it may be better tolerated than walking on flat surfaces.
—Tim Petrie, Verywell Health, 24 Sep. 2025
Plus, this treadmill folds up well and doesn’t take up much space.
—Claire Harmeyer, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
This can put businesses and employees on a treadmill dialed up to the top speed, rushing to keep up.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 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 30 Sep. 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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