treadmill

noun

tread·​mill ˈtred-ˌmil How to pronounce treadmill (audio)
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
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.
Researchers from the University of Toronto captured several vampire bats and taught them to run on a treadmill. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024 Despite the progress, Peloton is expecting to lose more members and sell fewer bikes and treadmills than Wall Street analysts had expected during its all-important holiday quarter. Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024 Our testers, who range in location from Alaska to Berkeley to Santa Fe to New York City, spent hours in them, bouncing up and down on trails, treadmills, and trains. Will Palmer, Outside Online, 30 Oct. 2024 Now take away the treadmill, the bike, the weights, all that pricy and bulky gear. Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for treadmill 

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Time Traveler
The first known use of treadmill was in 1822

Dictionary Entries Near treadmill

Cite this Entry

“Treadmill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treadmill. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

treadmill

noun
tread·​mill ˈtred-ˌmil How to pronounce treadmill (audio)
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 How to pronounce treadmill (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on treadmill

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!