1
a
: to step or walk on or over
b
: to walk or proceed along : follow
treading a fine line between tradition and innovation
4
: to copulate with
—used of a male bird
1
: to move or proceed on or as if on foot
must tread lightly
2
a
: to set foot
has gone where others fear to tread
b
: to put one's foot : step
carelessly treading on the flowers
3
: copulate
treader
noun
see also:
Examples of tread in a Sentence
They slowly trod back to the camp.
Don't tread on the grass.
treading the halls of the Senate
Countless footsteps have trodden a path to their door.
Recent Examples on the Web
Apparently, the man had been treading water for about 11 hours.
—
Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 May 2026
In trying to cut out the conduits, the ECB tread a dangerous path.
—Paul Newman, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Democratic socialists won a decisive victory in Hollywood recently, albeit on a political battlefield few politicians have tread.
—Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
In his typical spare and deliberate style, Romanian director Cristian Mungiu has crafted yet another Palme d’Or-worthy film that fearlessly treads into controversial issues in our society but pointedly doesn’t take sides.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tread
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Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 May 2026
In trying to cut out the conduits, the ECB tread a dangerous path.
—Paul Newman, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Democratic socialists won a decisive victory in Hollywood recently, albeit on a political battlefield few politicians have tread.
—Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
In his typical spare and deliberate style, Romanian director Cristian Mungiu has crafted yet another Palme d’Or-worthy film that fearlessly treads into controversial issues in our society but pointedly doesn’t take sides.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tread
Cite this Entry
“Tread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tread. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tread
2 of 2 noun1
: a mark made by or as if by treading
2
: the action, manner, or sound of treading or stepping
3
a
: the part of a sole that touches the ground
b
: the part of a wheel or tire that makes contact with a road or rail
especially
: the ridges or grooves on the surface of a tire
4
: the horizontal part of a step
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