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

Synonyms of footstep

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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.
He was always destined to follow in the footsteps of another tyrannical, ruthless Don – Michael Corleone. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 Following in his father’s footsteps, Julian is a successful musician. — Emma Kershaw, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026 And Tom Cruise looked likely to kick off his own lead-acting campaign for Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Digger on the lagoon, following in the footsteps of Oscar winners like The Whale’s Brendan Fraser and Poor Things’s Emma Stone. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 Cook followed in Jobs' footsteps, taking the stage for every major Apple product launch, which garners headlines and millions of viewers around the world. — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 1 Sep. 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

Rhymes for footstep

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Browse Nearby Words

footstall
footstep
footstick
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Cite this Entry

“Footstep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footstep. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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