First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1walk
verb \ˈwȯk\
: to move with your legs at a speed that is slower than running
: to go with (someone) to a place by walking : to walk with (someone)
: to cause (an animal) to go for a walk with you : to take (an animal) for a walk
Full Definition of WALK
intransitive verb
1
2
a : to move along on foot : advance by steps b : to come or go easily or readily c : to go on foot for exercise or pleasure d : to go at a walk
3
4
: to go to first base as a result of a base on balls
5
of an inanimate object a : to move in a manner that is suggestive of walking b : to stand with an appearance suggestive of strides <pylons walking across the valley>
6
of an astronaut : to move about in space outside a spacecraft
7
: to avoid criminal prosecution or conviction <walked on a technicality>
transitive verb
1
a : to pass on foot or as if on foot through, along, over, or upon : traverse, perambulate <walk the streets> <walk a tightrope> b : to perform or accomplish by going on foot <walk guard>
2
a : to cause (an animal) to go at a walk : take for a walk <walking a dog> b (1) : to cause to move by walking <walked her bicycle up the hill> (2) : to haul (as an anchor) by walking round the capstan
3
: to follow on foot for the purpose of measuring, surveying, or inspecting <walk a boundary>
4
a : to accompany on foot : walk with <walked her home> b : to compel to walk (as by a command) c : to bring to a specified condition by walking <walked us off our feet>
5
: to move (an object) in a manner suggestive of walking
6
: to perform (a dance) at a walking pace <walk a quadrille>
7
: to give a base on balls to
— walk away from
1
: to outrun or get the better of without difficulty
2
: to survive (an accident) with little or no injury
3
: to give up or leave behind willingly : abandon
— walk off with
1
a : to steal and take away b : to take over unexpectedly from someone else : steal 1d <walked off with the show>
2
: to win or gain especially by outdoing one's competitors without difficulty
— walk on
: to take advantage of : abuse
— walk on eggshells or walk on eggs
: to exercise extreme caution
— walk over
: to treat contemptuously
— walk the plank
1
: to walk under compulsion over the side of a ship into the sea
2
: to resign an office or position under compulsion
— walk through
1
: to go through (as a theatrical role or familiar activity) perfunctorily (as in an early stage of rehearsal)
2
: to guide (as a novice) through an unfamiliar or complex procedure step-by-step
3
: to deal with or carry out perfunctorily
See walk defined for English-language learners
See walk defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of WALK
partly from Middle English walken (past welk, past participle walken), from Old English wealcan to roll, toss, journey about (past weolc, past participle wealcen) and partly from Middle English walkien (past walked, past participle walked), from Old English wealcian to roll up, muffle up; akin to Middle Dutch walken to knead, press, full
2walk
noun
: an act of walking : an act of going somewhere by walking
: a place or path for walking
: an organized event in which people walk to raise money for a particular cause or group
Full Definition of WALK
1
a : an act or instance of going on foot especially for exercise or pleasure <go for a walk> b : space walk
3
4
: a place or area of land in which animals feed and exercise with minimal restraint
5
: distance to be walked <a quarter mile walk from here>
6
British : a ceremonial procession
8
a : the gait of a biped in which the feet are lifted alternately with one foot not clear of the ground before the other touches b : the gait of a quadruped in which there are always at least two feet on the ground; specifically : a 4-beat gait of a horse in which the feet strike the ground in the sequence near hind, near fore, off hind, off fore c : a low rate of speed <the shortage of raw materials slowed production to a walk>
9
: a route regularly traversed by a person in the performance of a particular activity (as patrolling, begging, or vending)
10
: characteristic manner of walking <his walk is just like his father's>
11
12
13
: an easy victory <won in a walk>
— walk in the park
: an easy or pleasurable experience
See walk defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of WALK
14th century
Related to WALK
- Synonyms
- amble, constitutional, perambulation, ramble, range, saunter, stroll, turn, wander
WALK THROUGH Defined for Kids
1walk
verb \ˈwȯk\
walkedwalk·ing
Definition of WALK for Kids
1
: to move or cause to move along on foot at a natural slow pace <I walk to school.>
2
: to cover or pass over on foot <We walked 20 miles.>
3
: to go with (a person or animal) by walking <Will you walk me home?>
4
: to go or cause to go to first base after four balls in baseball
— walk·er noun
— walk out
1
: to leave suddenly and unexpectedly
2
: to go on strike
2walk
noun
Definition of WALK for Kids
1
: the act of moving along on foot at a natural slow pace
2
: a place or path for walking <My dog ran up the walk to greet me.>
3
: distance to be walked often measured in time required by a walker to cover <Her house is a long walk from here.>
4
: way of walking <He approached with a confident walk.>
5
: an advance to first base after four balls in baseball
6
: position in life or the community
7
: a slow way of moving by a horse
Learn More About WALK
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up walk? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).