treading

present participle of tread

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of treading The Loons have been, at best, treading water over the past month, and the veteran Trapp knows no one is going to throw them a life preserver. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025 For now, economic heavyweights California and New York are treading water but could easily tip the scales. Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025 There’s always comeuppance and tragedy when treading on the gods’s domain (see Frankenstein’s ending). James Folta, Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025 That season’s Sharks — a talented group, to be sure — ended up treading water for the first three months before coming together in the second half and eventually reaching the Stanley Cup Final. Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025 Video from the scene, obtained by Newsflare, shows the animal cautiously swimming toward the agency's boat as officers extend a makeshift flotation device to give the big cat a place to rest, rather than treading water. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025 The Administration is treading more carefully, however, after facing an unexpected level of blowback towards the strikes, an official told NBC last week. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 3 Oct. 2025 Maddie—baggy hoodies tossed over an array of old tattoos, clearly carrying a heavy amount of life for her 28 years—gradually attempts to fill her daughter in on her own youth, treading a tightrope between honesty and delicacy. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025 One photograph shows Truman treading the waters of Delaware Bay during a 1946 vacation cruise to Bermuda, wearing swimming trunks and enjoying the warm water. Monty Davis, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for treading
Verb
  • Refrain from entering water that might carry an electric current and avoid walking through floodwaters.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Running back Waymond Jordan, who is out due to an ankle injury, was seen walking on the sideline just before kickoff and celebrated with the team on the sidelines when Jayden Maiava connected with Makai Lemon for the first touchdown of the evening.
    Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Thompson served five years in the Army before stepping away to focus on raising her youngest son.
    Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Then Byrd, who didn’t start one exhibition and didn’t play in the other while battling various injuries, limped off early in the second half after stepping on someone’s foot.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Treading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/treading. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on treading

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!