walking

American  

[waw-king] / ˈwɔ kɪŋ /

adjective

1. considered as a person who can or does walk or something that walks.

   The hospital is caring for six walking patients. He's walking proof that people can lose weight quickly.

2. used for or as an aid in walking.

   She put on her walking shoes and went out.

3. suitable for, characterized by, or consisting of walking.

   True sightseeing is a walking affair. We took a walking tour of Spain.

4. of or relating to an implement or machine drawn by a draft animal and operated or controlled by a person on foot.

   a walking plow.

5. of or relating to a mechanical part that moves back and forth.

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noun

1. the act or action of a person or thing that walks.

   Walking was the best exercise for him.

2. the manner or way in which a person walks.

3. the state or condition of the surface, terrain, etc., on which a person walks.

   The walking is dry over here.

4. race walking.

walking British  

/ ˈwɔːkɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of a person) considered to possess the qualities of something inanimate as specified

   he is a walking encyclopedia

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Other Word Forms

• nonwalking adjective

Etymology

Origin of walking

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; walk, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Hancock Park will stay partially open, with new walking paths and outdoor features set to be phased in coordination with construction.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Next to pictures showing her and Bardella walking, holding hands, and clambering over rocks, Paris-Match waxes lyrical about a couple "reinventing courtly love – 21st Century-style".

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

"I like to think about it as walking through a doorway into how humankind explores the solar system going forward."

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

The other one keeps walking since, if it was really there, someone would have picked it up already.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

The walking was at once more difficult here, the going more arduous, the snow deeper, but at least we weren’t dragging along with hundreds of others, being endlessly held up.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo