footstep

noun

foot·​step ˈfu̇t-ˌstep How to pronounce footstep (audio)
Synonyms of footstepnext
1
: the mark of the foot : track
2
a
: tread
b
: distance covered by a step : pace
3
: a step on which to ascend or descend
4
: a way of life, conduct, or action
followed in their father's footsteps

Examples of footstep in a Sentence

She slowly took one footstep toward the frightened animal. It's five footsteps from the bedroom to the bathroom.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Fremantle is among the original partners who are no longer aboard the film, which will see Hunger Games and Billy The Kid star Tom Blyth follow in the footsteps of Gary Cooper, Rock Hudson and George Hamilton in the lead role. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 16 May 2026 At just 11 years old, Sean is already widely known for his science content and as a STEM educator, following in Nye's footsteps. Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026 Steady footsteps changed from an organized march into chaos as civil rights protesters fled the attacks of police. Sarah Clifton, USA Today, 16 May 2026 In many scenes where a conventional filmmaker would have layered in the sound of footsteps or ambient movement, Abraham chose silence, letting the visual image generate its own interior noise in the viewer’s mind. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for footstep

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of footstep was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Footstep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footstep. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

footstep

noun
foot·​step -ˌstep How to pronounce footstep (audio)
1
a
: a step of the foot
b
: the distance covered by a step : pace
2
a
: the mark of the foot
b
: the sound of a footstep
3
: a step on which to go up or down

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