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.
Mary Ann, who declined to give her last name for her safety, eventually became a Baptist minister, following in her father’s footsteps. — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 Presley Gerber followed his mom's footsteps into modeling, being signed by IMG Models at 15 years old and walking runway shows for brands including Moschino and Dolce & Gabbana. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026 This budding storm will not follow in the exact footsteps or reach the same strength as last month’s nor’easter. — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 In doing so, the German department store follows in the footsteps of the likes of Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Selfridges in London and Saks Fifth Avenue, which opened its now-defunct The Wellery back in 2017. — Cathrin Schaer, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 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 19 Oct. 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
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