walk definition walk definition 1

Walk – to move forward by putting one foot in front of the other at a regular pace, without running. It is one of the most basic ways people travel short distances and is also often done for health or relaxation.

Part of speech:
verb
Phonetic transcription (IPA):
/wɑːk/
CEFR level:
A1
Word frequency:

Past and present participles of “walk”:

Past participle

Present participle

walked

walking

Walk: British vs American Pronunciation

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“Walk” sounds very similar in British and American English, but the vowel is slightly different. For example, the vowel in British English will have a more rounded and prolonged pronunciation /wɔːk/, whereas the vowel sound in American English will be relatively flat, like WAHK.

The Secret of the Silent “L”

In the word “walk,” the letter l is silent, meaning that it is not sounded at all. In the case of alk groups, this is why the word sounds like WAWK or WAHK rather than WAL-K. Examples of words where this is common include “talk” and “chalk.”

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Examples of “Walk” in a Sentence

The word “walk” becomes understandable through its usage in actual situations. Here you can see how people use the word in their daily conversations across various social contexts.

Walking as a Daily Routine

  I walk to school every day.
  She walks to work in the morning.
  We walk in the park after dinner.
  He walks his dog twice a day.

Talking About the Past and Future 

  They walked home after the party. (Past)
  She walked along the beach yesterday. (Past)
  I will walk to the store later. (Future)
  We will walk together tomorrow. (Future)

Using “Walk” as a Noun

  Let’s go for a walk.
  I need to take a walk to relax.
  We went for a long walk in the forest.
  He takes a walkevery evening.

Synonyms for “Walk”

There are many words that can be used to express walking in English. Every verb provides a different nuance, allowing you to convey both the activity and the manner in which it is performed.

Moving Slowly: Stroll and Wander

  • stroll – to walk slowly in a calm and pleasant way
  We strolled through the park on a sunny afternoon.
  • wander – to walk without a clear direction, often exploring
  They are wandering around the old town and looking at the buildings.
  • amble – walk in a slow, easy way
  He ambled down the street, enjoying the sunshine.
  • saunter – walk in a relaxed, confident way
  She sauntered into the room as if she owned it.
walk in a sentence walk in a sentence 1

Moving for Exercise: Hike and March

  • hike – walk long distances, usually in nature
  We hiked up the mountain early in the morning.
  • march – walk with strong, regular steps
  The soldiers are marching across the field.
  • trek – walk a long and often difficult journey
  They were trekking through the jungle for days.
  • tramp – walk heavily or for a long time
  He tramped through the snow to reach the cabin.

Fast Walking: Pace and Stride 

  • pace – walk back and forth (often thinking or nervous)
  She paced the room while waiting for the results.
  • stride – walk with long, confident steps
  He strides through the office without hesitation.
  • rush – walk quickly because you are in a hurry
  I was rushing to catch the bus.
  • hurry – move fast to get somewhere
  We hurried home before it started raining.

Opposite Actions (Antonyms)

However, not all scenarios feature people walking. In some cases, the opposite may be that someone remains stationary or travels at an entirely different speed. The following words refer to actions different from walking.

Staying Still

  • stop – to stop moving
  He stopped in the middle of the road.
  • stand – to be on your feet without moving
  She stood by the door and waited.
  • stay – to remain in one place
  Please stay here until I come back.

Moving Fast

  • run – to move quickly on your feet
  He ran to catch the bus.
  • sprint – to run very fast for a short distance
  She sprinted to the finish line.
  • dash – to move quickly and suddenly
  They dashed across the street before the light changed.

“Walk”: Collocations & Phrasal Verbs

The word “walk” is found in many collocations that extend its literal sense. The usage of these phrases in the English language is quite extensive and they can be effectively employed to describe behavior.

Essential Phrasal Verbs

Phrase

Explanation

Example

walk in 

come into a place, often without planning or invitation 
  She just walked in and joined the conversation.

walk out 

to leave a place suddenly, especially to show anger or disagreement 
  He walked out of the meeting when things got tense.

walk away

leave a situation on purpose, often to avoid problems or conflict 
  She chose to walk away instead of arguing.

walk into

enter somewhere or become involved in something, sometimes unexpectedly 
  They walked into a difficult situation without realizing it.

Popular Word Pairings

Phrase

Explanation

Example

walk the dog 

to take a dog outside for exercise or to walk together
  I walk the dog every morning before work.

walk home 

return home on foot instead of using transport 
  We walked home after dinner.

walk upstairs 

go up to a higher floor using the stairs 
  He walked upstairs to get his phone.

Fun Idioms with “Walk”

Phrase

Explanation

Example

a walk in the park 

something that feels very easy to do 
  The exam was a walk in the park for her.

walk on air 

to feel extremely happy or excited 
  He was walking on air after getting the job.

walk the extra mile 

to make an extra effort beyond what is expected 
  She always walks the extra mile to help her clients.

“Walk” in Other Languages

The concept of walking is present everywhere, but each language describes it uniquely. These translations will help you see the ways in which “walk” is depicted in other cultures.

Language Word for “Walk”
Flag Spanish Spanish   Caminar
Flag French French   Marcher
Flag German German   Gehen