trot
trot — verb
1. to move at a speed between walking and running, with diagonal pairs of legs lift
to move at a speed between walking and running, with diagonal pairs of legs lifting and landing together — used for horses and similar four-legged animals.
The brown horse trotted along the wooden fence beside the old barn.
trot + along + noun phrase (direction)
A small pony trotted across the field early in the morning.
Two large dogs trotted happily behind their owner on the dirt path.
trot + adverb of manner + prepositional phrase
A deer and her fawn trotted through the meadow toward the river.
Felix urged his pony to trot as they approached the farm gate.
collocation: urge + noun + to trot
- trot along
- trot across
- trot through
- trot down
- trot toward
- walk
the slowest four-legged gait, with at least two feet always on the ground
Grammar Patterns
trot + adverb/preposition (direction)
Usage Note
Frequently used with a direction adverb or prepositional phrase (along, across, through, toward) to indicate where the animal is moving.
Common Mistakes
2. to sit on a horse and guide it at a trot, or to cause a horse to move at this pa
to sit on a horse and guide it at a trot, or to cause a horse to move at this pace.
Yael trotted her horse along the lane for about twenty minutes.
transitive: trot + horse + adverb (direction)
Sophia learned to trot on a gentle old pony at the riding school.
intransitive: trot (on a horse), no object
Aarav trotted the pony around the ring twice before stopping.
The instructor trotted the young horse down the hill toward the stables.
- trot a horse
- trot a pony
- learn to trot
- trot around the ring
Grammar Patterns
trot (on a horse)
trot a horse + adverb/preposition
Usage Note
When transitive, the object is the animal being ridden or driven — never a person or vehicle.
Common Mistakes
3. to move quickly with short, hurried steps, especially because you are busy or ne
to move quickly with short, hurried steps, especially because you are busy or need to get somewhere.
Jisoo trotted down the stairs when she heard the doorbell ring.
trot + down + noun (direction)
Andrés trotted along the platform trying to catch the departing train.
The shop assistant trotted back and forth between the shelves and the counter.
trot + back and forth (manner pattern)
Camille trotted after the toddler as he ran toward the playground.
- trot down
- trot along
- trot after
- trot back and forth
- trot off
- stroll
to walk slowly and leisurely, without hurry
Grammar Patterns
trot + adverb/preposition (direction)
Usage Note
Describes a purposeful, hurried movement on foot — faster than walking but not a full run. The direction is almost always specified with an adverb or prepositional phrase.
Common Mistakes
4. to do or say something too quickly, without taking enough care or attention.
to do or say something too quickly, without taking enough care or attention.
Sophia trotted through her presentation and forgot several key points.
pattern: trot through + task (informal)
Zola realized she had trotted through the instructions and missed an important warning.
The lawyer trotted through the witness's testimony without asking the right questions.
Nellie trotted through her homework in just ten minutes and made many mistakes.
informal: trot through + homework
- trot through
- trot through a task
- trot through a speech
- trot through homework
- rush through
more common and less informal than 'trot through'
- race through
implies even greater speed and less care
- skim
means to read or deal with something quickly without full attention
- go over carefully
to examine or do something with full attention and time
Grammar Patterns
trot through + noun (a task, a speech, etc.)
Usage Note
Almost always used with 'through' followed by the thing being rushed. Common in informal British English. Distinguish from sense 3 (HURRY), which is about physical movement — this sense is about lack of care when performing a task.
Common Mistakes
trot out
phrasal verbTo bring out and present something, often an idea or information, for others to see or consider.
The manager trotted out the same old excuses again.
Why did she trot out that outdated statistic?
be hot to trot
idiomTo be very eager and ready to begin doing something.
The team was hot to trot for the championship game.
Are you hot to trot about the new project?
trot — noun
1. the gait and pace of a four-legged animal, especially a horse, moving at a moder
the gait and pace of a four-legged animal, especially a horse, moving at a moderate speed between a walk and a run, with diagonal leg pairs working together.
The rider slowed the horse from a canter to a gentle trot.
collocation: slow from [gait] to a trot
The pony broke into a trot as it started climbing the small hill.
collocation: break into a trot
The horses moved at a steady trot for most of the journey home.
Felix could hear the trot of hooves on the gravel road from inside the cabin.
- at a trot
- break into a trot
- slow to a trot
- a steady trot
- a gentle trot
- trot of hooves
Grammar Patterns
at a trot
break into a trot
slow to a trot
Usage Note
Usually singular. Used with prepositions like 'at' for speed description and 'into' for transitioning from another gait.
2. a pace at which a person moves on foot more quickly than a walk but not as fast
a pace at which a person moves on foot more quickly than a walk but not as fast as a full run, often to keep up with someone or something.
Yara broke into a trot to catch up with her friends on the trail.
collocation: break into a trot (human)
The children set off at a trot toward the ice cream truck down the street.
Andrés kept a steady trot for the last mile of the race.
collocation: keep up a steady trot
Minh's usual morning exercise is a light trot around the neighbourhood block.
- at a trot
- break into a trot
- keep up a trot
- a light trot
- a steady trot
Grammar Patterns
at a trot
break into a trot
Usage Note
Often used with 'break into' to describe starting to trot from a walk. Less formal than 'jog' and usually implies a shorter duration or a specific purpose.
Common Mistakes
3. an illness in which solid waste from the body is passed too often and in a liqui
an illness in which solid waste from the body is passed too often and in a liquid state.
The cat had the trots after eating scraps from the kitchen bin.
pattern: have the trots (informal, British)
A bout of the trots kept Andrés at home for two days last week.
The vet said the dog's trots were caused by a sudden change in diet.
collocation: have the trots / the trots are caused by
The whole team got the trots after eating at that roadside restaurant.
- the trots
- a case of the trots
- a bout of the trots
- have the trots
Grammar Patterns
the trots
Usage Note
Always used in the plural form 'the trots' in British English. Highly informal — avoid in formal or medical writing. Use 'diarrhoea' for neutral or formal contexts.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- trotternounC1
- trottingnounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four words describe horse gaits at different speeds. 'Trot' (A2) is a two-beat diagonal gait, faster than a walk but slower than a canter — it is the most common term learners need for describing horse movement. 'Canter' (B1) is a three-beat gait that is smoother and faster than a trot, often used for leisurely riding. 'Gallop' (B1) is the fastest gait, with all four feet briefly leaving the ground, used when speed is the goal. 'Amble' (C1) is a slow, relaxed gait — often associated with pleasure riding rather than covering distance. Choosing the right word depends on speed and rhythm: 'The horse trotted across the field' suggests moderate, purposeful movement, whereas 'The horse cantered across the field' suggests a faster, smoother ride.
Common collocations
Etymology
'Trot' comes from Old French 'troter', meaning to trot or to go, which likely came from Frankish '*trotton'. The word entered English in the 14th century, first used for horses and later extended to describe a person's hurried movement. Related words exist in other Germanic languages, such as Middle Dutch 'trotten'.