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
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
On a treadmill walk, Meta AI on the Vanguards could answer questions, for example, about current heart rate and the length of the exercise.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Hofland took him to the Perham Area Community Center or CrossFit to use the stair stepper and treadmill.
—Barbie Porter, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
My fitness center has three rows of treadmills and ellipticals.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for treadmill
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Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
On a treadmill walk, Meta AI on the Vanguards could answer questions, for example, about current heart rate and the length of the exercise.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Hofland took him to the Perham Area Community Center or CrossFit to use the stair stepper and treadmill.
—Barbie Porter, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
My fitness center has three rows of treadmills and ellipticals.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 17 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 23 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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