toe

American  

[toh] / toʊ /

noun

toes plural

1. one of the terminal digits of the human foot.

2. an analogous part in certain animals.

3. the forepart of the foot or hoof of a horse or the like.

4. the forepart of anything worn on the foot, as of a shoe or stocking.

5. a part resembling a toe in shape or position.

6. Railroads. the end of a frog in front of the point and in the direction of the switch.

7. Machinery.

   1. a journal or part placed vertically in a bearing, as the lower end of a vertical shaft.

   2. a curved partial cam lifting the flat surface of a follower and letting it drop; wiper.

8. Golf. the outer end of the head of a club.

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verb (used with object)

toes, present (3rd person singular) toed, past participle, past toeing present participle

1. to furnish with a toe or toes.

2. to touch or reach with the toes.

   The pitcher toed the mound, wound up, and threw a fastball.

3. to kick with the toe.

4. Golf. to strike (the ball) with the toe of the club.

5. Carpentry.

   1. to drive (a nail) obliquely.

   2. to toenail.

verb (used without object)

toes, present (3rd person singular) toed, past participle, past toeing present participle

1. to stand, walk, etc., with the toes in a specified position.

   to toe in.

2. to tap with the toe, as in dancing.

idioms

1. on one's toes, energetic; alert; ready.

   The spirited competition kept them on their toes.

2. step / tread on someone's toes, to offend (a person); encroach on the territory or sphere of responsibility of (another).

   The new employee stepped on a lot of toes when he suggested reorganizing the office.

3. toe the line. line.

toe British  

/ təʊ /

noun

1. any one of the digits of the foot

2. the corresponding part in other vertebrates

3. the part of a shoe, sock, etc, covering the toes

4. anything resembling a toe in shape or position

5. the front part of the head of a golf club, hockey stick, etc

6. the lower bearing of a vertical shaft assembly

7. the tip of a cam follower that engages the cam profile

8. informal to begin doing or try something new or unfamiliar

9. alert

10. to offend or insult a person, esp by trespassing on his or her field of responsibility

11. informal to die

12. slang speed

    a player with plenty of toe

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verb

1. (tr) to touch, kick, or mark with the toe

2. (tr) golf to strike (the ball) with the toe of the club

3. (tr) to drive (a nail, spike, etc) obliquely

4. (intr) to walk with the toes pointing in a specified direction

   to toe inwards

5. to conform to expected standards, attitudes, etc

toe More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing toe

• dip one's toes into
• from head to toe
• on one's toes
• step on someone's toes
• turn up one's toes

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• toeless
  adjective
• toelike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• toes
  plural

Participles

• toeing
  present
• toed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• toe
  simple
• toes
  simple
• have toed
  perfect
• has toed
  perfect
• am toeing
  progressive
• are toeing
  progressive
• is toeing
  progressive
• have been toeing
  perfect progressive
• has been toeing
  perfect progressive

Past

• toed
  simple
• had toed
  perfect
• was toeing
  progressive
• were toeing
  progressive
• had been toeing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will toe
  simple
• will have toed
  perfect
• will be toeing
  progressive
• will have been toeing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of toe

before 900; Middle English; Old English tā; cognate with Dutch teen, German Zehe, Old Norse tā

Explanation

Your toes are to your feet what your fingers are to your hands. They're the five digits you have on each foot. Tetrapod, or four-limbed animals, have toes on their feet. The way those toes are used distinguishes these animals from each other. Some, like dogs, are digitigrade, walking on their toes. Humans are plantigrade, meaning we walk with our toes flat against the ground, our weight on the soles of our feet. You can also use toe to mean the front of your shoe, or as a verb meaning "to touch with one's foot."

Example Sentences

Episode 1 and 2 of Tip Toe are out on Channel 4, Sunday 31 May and Monday 1 June.

From BBC • May 30, 2026

The incentive structure is clear: Toe the line and your coffers swell; cross it and a financial juggernaut rolls over you.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 25, 2025

Toe Bautista, a research analyst for crypto trading firm GSR, described memecoins as the riskiest kind of gambling.

From Salon • Dec. 17, 2024

“Celebrity Toe Wrestling” and The Line are bots.

From New York Times • Mar. 20, 2023

She wanted everyone to know how her mom would just die if Isabelle wasn’t also a part of the Alpha Omega Toe Jam legacy like her grandmas on both sides.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon