cakewalk

American  

[keyk-wawk] / ˈkeɪkˌwɔk /

noun

1. (formerly) a promenade or march, of Black American origin, in which the couples with the most intricate or eccentric steps received cakes as prizes.

2. a dance with a strutting step based on this promenade.

3. music for this dance.

4. Informal. something easy, sure, or certain.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to walk or dance in or as if in a cakewalk.

cakewalk British  

/ ˈkeɪkˌwɔːk /

noun

1. a dance based on a march with intricate steps, originally performed by African-Americans with the prize of a cake for the best performers

2. a piece of music composed for this dance

3. informal an easily accomplished task

---

verb

1. (intr) to perform the cakewalk

Other Word Forms

• cakewalker
  noun

Etymology

Origin of cakewalk

First recorded in 1860–65; cake + walk

Example Sentences

Clark held on for a wire-to-wire victory at 4-under par, but it wasn’t the cakewalk it was shaping up to be entering the final round.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 21, 2026

Ireland were hanging on by their fingernails, before a second-half rally threatened to turn a cakewalk into a contest.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

What’s more, Drake Maye has fumbled a combined six times in the last two games, so this won’t be a cakewalk for the Patriots.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 24, 2026

In the last 18 minutes, the visitors scored three unanswered tries - all converted - to turn a cakewalk into a struggle for the Scots, whose edge blunted incredibly in the second half.

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2025

I admit I got more nervous the closer we got to Lockhart, but' Harry kept telling me it would be a cakewalk.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

Related Words

• cinch