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.

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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

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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

Nonetheless, the U.S. insisted leading up to Thursday that the rematch wouldn’t be a cakewalk.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 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

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

“He ended up winning,” Kobe said, “but it was a battle to the end. It wasn’t no cakewalk for him.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 4, 2024

I mean, no part of Southeast is a cakewalk, but Ed Borough...you don’t want to be caught there late at night.

From "Monday's Not Coming" by Tiffany D. Jackson

Related Words

• cinch