footstep

noun

foot·​step ˈfu̇t-ˌstep 

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 his father's footsteps

Synonyms

• footmark
• footprint
• step
• trace
• vestige

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

In August, Evan took to the skies in a helicopter for the first time by himself, following in the footsteps of his mom, an aviation enthusiast and chopper pilot. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024

Fresh on the heels of six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick following in the footsteps of Hall-of-Famer and heading back to college to coach a less-than-powerful program, another legendary NFL figure is reportedly considering manning the sidelines for an NCAA football team. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

Natasha Rothwell will reprise her role as spa manager Belinda Lindsey, following in the footsteps of Emmy winner Jennifer Coolidge, who appeared in back-to-back seasons as heiress Tanya. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Although Dune: Prophecy was poised to follow in the ambitious footsteps of Denis Villeneuve’s interpretation of Frank Herbert’s famous novels, what drew Williams to the project was first and foremost Watson. —Carita Rizzo, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

footstep

noun

foot·​step -ˌstep 

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