always followed by an adverb or preposition
: to walk with very long steps
She strode across the room towards me.
plural strides
1
a
: a long step
She crossed the room in only a few strides.
As he ran down the field, the defender kept up with him stride for stride. [=the defender ran next to him at the same speed]
—sometimes used figurativelyThe company has matched its competitors stride for stride. [=has not fallen behind its competitors]
b
: the distance covered by a long step
He was standing only a few strides away from me.
2
: a way of walking
He has a distinctive bouncy stride.
She entered the room with a confident stride.
3
: a change or improvement that brings someone closer to a goal
—usually plural
Great strides [=advances] have been made in the control of tuberculosis.
The patient is making strides toward a complete recovery.
Cite this Entry
“Stride.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/stride. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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