walking
walking — noun
1. the activity of moving on foot for enjoyment, health, or fresh air, often in par
the activity of moving on foot for enjoyment, health, or fresh air, often in parks or the countryside
Theo and his grandmother go walking in the park every Sunday morning.
go + -ing for recreational activity
Walking is a cheap way to stay fit — you do not need any special equipment.
Mert enjoys walking through the forest near his village to watch birds and collect mushrooms.
walking through the forest — nature context
Regular walking can lower blood pressure and improve your mood after a long day.
- go walking
- enjoy walking
- walking route
- walking pace
2. a competitive sport in which people walk as quickly as they can over a long dist
a competitive sport in which people walk as quickly as they can over a long distance, keeping one foot on the ground at all times
Folake trains for race walking six days a week and has won three national medals.
train for race walking
Race walking events at the Olympics cover distances of twenty and fifty kilometres.
Élise started race walking after a knee injury stopped her from running competitively.
started race walking after injury
Judges watch race walkers to make sure they do not bend their knees too early.
- race walking event
- race walking technique
- competitive walking
- speed walking
informal term for fast walking, not necessarily a competitive sport
- power walking
fast walking done for exercise, usually not competitive
Usage Note
Race walking is an Olympic sport with strict rules: the front knee must stay straight from the moment it touches the ground until it passes under the body, and one foot must always be in contact with the ground. Athletes who break these rules receive a warning or disqualification.
Common Mistakes
3. in basketball, a violation that happens when a player moves more than two steps
in basketball, a violation that happens when a player moves more than two steps while holding the ball without bouncing it
The referee called a walking violation when the young player took four steps without dribbling.
called a walking violation
Jason was frustrated when the referee kept calling walking on his team in the final quarter.
After three walking calls against their team, the coach argued with the referee about the rule.
walking calls — countable use
The young player practised his footwork every day so he would not get called for walking.
- call walking
- a walking violation
- get called for walking
- traveling
the more common term for this violation in American basketball
Usage Note
Also called 'traveling' in American English. The rule is designed to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage by carrying the ball while moving. When the referee signals a walking violation, the ball is given to the other team.
Common Mistakes
walking — adjective
1. able to walk around and not restricted to a bed; used especially for hospital pa
able to walk around and not restricted to a bed; used especially for hospital patients who do not need to lie down
The nurse said the walking patients could eat their meals in the dining room.
walking patients — medical term
After the surgery, Wei was classified as a walking case and moved to a regular ward.
The hospital has a separate dining area for walking patients who can feed themselves.
walking patients who can — relative clause pattern
Dr. Okafor said her walking patients could attend therapy in the next building.
- walking patient
- walking case
- walking wound
- ambulatory
more formal medical term for the same meaning
Usage Note
Used almost exclusively in medical contexts before nouns — 'walking patient', 'walking case', 'walking wound'. Not used in everyday conversation to describe someone who can walk (use 'able to walk' instead).
Common Mistakes
2. having so much of a particular quality that you seem to be a living example of i
having so much of a particular quality that you seem to be a living example of it — used in expressions like 'a walking encyclopedia' to describe a person who has an enormous amount of that thing
Lara is a walking dictionary of film history — she knows every director and release year.
a walking dictionary of [topic]
Our tour guide, a walking encyclopedia of folklore, answered every question the group asked.
A walking encyclopedia of baseball, Uncle Roy can name every World Series champion since the 1970s.
appositive structure with walking encyclopedia
The new manager is a walking disaster; her decisions create more problems for the team.
- a walking encyclopedia
- a walking dictionary
- a walking miracle
- a walking disaster
- living
used similarly in phrases like 'a living legend', but slightly more formal
Usage Note
Always appears before a noun in fixed phrases like 'a walking encyclopedia', 'a walking dictionary', 'a walking miracle', 'a walking disaster'. The noun that follows names the quality the person possesses in extreme degree. Cannot be used with 'very' or comparatives (*'very walking encyclopedia').
Common Mistakes
3. designed or intended to be worn, used, or carried while travelling on foot
designed or intended to be worn, used, or carried while travelling on foot
Tamar bought a pair of comfortable walking shoes before her trip to Japan.
walking shoes
The walking trail along the river is about three miles long and well marked.
Nadia packed a walking stick and a small backpack for her day hike in the mountains.
walking stick — hiking equipment
The shop sells walking boots, waterproof jackets, and other gear for outdoor trips.
- walking shoes
- walking stick
- walking boots
- walking trail
- walking route
- walking map
- pedestrian
used for paths or zones ('pedestrian area'), but not for equipment like shoes or sticks
4. that involves or consists of travelling on foot as the main activity
that involves or consists of travelling on foot as the main activity
The walking tour of Old Taipei takes visitors through historic streets and temples.
walking tour
Christopher prefers a walking commute because the fresh air helps him wake up before work.
The city offers a free walking map with three different routes through the historical district.
walking map — printed guide for walkers
Sahil prefers a walking pace when exploring a new area so he can notice small details.
- walking tour
- walking route
- walking pace
- walking distance
- pedestrian
more formal; used for zones, crossings, or bridges ('pedestrian bridge') but not for tours or commutes
- on foot
adverbial phrase rather than adjective: 'a tour on foot'
Usage Note
Use this sense when the focus is on the activity being done by walking, not on equipment ('walking shoes' belongs to sense 3).
5. designed to move slowly by lifting and setting down parts like legs, or controll
designed to move slowly by lifting and setting down parts like legs, or controlled by a person who is on foot
The construction team uses a walking excavator that moves on metal legs across rough ground.
walking excavator — machine with leg-like parts
A walking dragline is guided by an operator on foot using a remote control.
The farm uses a walking tractor that one person can guide across a field.
walking tractor — light farm machine
Engineers designed a walking robot that can carry supplies over rocky ground without wheels.
- walking excavator
- walking dragline
- walking beam
- walking plough
Usage Note
Used in engineering and construction to describe heavy machinery that moves in a way that looks like walking, rather than on wheels or tracks. Also describes equipment that a person can guide while walking alongside it.
6. near enough that someone can reach the place on foot rather than by car, bus, or
near enough that someone can reach the place on foot rather than by car, bus, or other transport
The hotel is walking distance from the train station and the main market square.
walking distance from
Defne chose the apartment because it was walking distance to her university.
The supermarket is walking distance from Gabriela's apartment, so she never needs to drive there.
walking distance from [place]
One advantage of the new office is that it is walking distance from the bus station.
- walking distance
- within walking distance
- within walking distance
slightly more formal phrase with the same meaning
- nearby
more general — does not specify that walking is the mode of travel
- out of walking distance
too far to reach on foot
- far
general opposite of nearby
Usage Note
Commonly used in the phrase 'walking distance' after a linking verb: 'The park is walking distance from my house.' Also appears before a noun: 'a walking-distance neighbourhood'. Typically followed by 'from', 'to', or used alone with a distance estimate.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Walking is the most general term — any travel on foot for any purpose or distance. Hiking refers specifically to walking on trails in nature, often uphill and over uneven ground, for a longer period. Strolling is slow, relaxed walking, usually in a town or park with no particular destination in mind. Rambling is a British term for recreational countryside walking, sometimes on paths that are not clearly marked. Trekking is a longer, more demanding journey on foot, often over several days in remote areas. For example: 'We went hiking in the mountains on Saturday, then strolled through the old town afterwards.' 'My uncle enjoys rambling in the Lake District.' 'They spent a month trekking in the Himalayas.'
Common collocations
Etymology
Walking comes from the verb 'walk', which traces back to Old English 'wealcan' meaning 'to roll, toss, move about'. Over time the meaning shifted from a rolling or rocking motion to moving on foot. The '-ing' suffix turns the verb into a noun (the activity) or an adjective (describing something related to walking).