walk
A1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
to move at a regular and fairly slow pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground simultaneously.
To travel or proceed on foot; to accompany on a walk; to take an animal out; to guide or escort someone; to behave in a certain manner; to traverse or cover a distance by walking; to resign or quit; to achieve base on balls in baseball.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Walk" is a general, unmarked verb for pedestrian locomotion. It contrasts with more specific verbs like 'stroll', 'march', or 'hike'. Its basic sense is intransitive (I walk), but it can be transitive with meanings like 'walk the dog' or 'walk the path'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'walk' as a noun commonly refers to a designated path or route for walking, especially in the countryside (e.g., 'a coastal walk'). In American English, this is less common, with 'trail' or 'path' being preferred. The phrase "go for a walk" is used in both, but "take a walk" is slightly more common in AmE.
Connotations
In AmE, "take a walk" can be a dismissive command ("Why don't you take a walk?"), a meaning less common in BrE. The noun 'walk' in sports contexts differs: 'base on balls' (AmE baseball) vs. 'walk' (cricket, a dismissal).
Frequency
The verb is equally frequent. The noun is slightly more frequent in BrE due to its use for named paths/routes.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
S V (intransitive: He walks.)S V O (transitive: She walks the dog.)S V A (adjunct: He walks to school.)S V O A (complex transitive: I walked him home.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “walk on air”
- “walk the plank”
- “walk a tightrope”
- “walk the walk”
- “walk all over someone”
- “walk of life”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'walk someone through' a process, 'walk away from a deal', 'walk the talk' (to act consistently with one's statements).
Academic
Used literally in geography/urban studies; metaphorically in philosophy/social sciences (e.g., 'walk in someone's shoes' as empathy).
Everyday
The primary context: discussing daily movement, exercise, leisure activities, and dog care.
Technical
In sports: baseball (base on balls), cricket (mode of dismissal), robotics (gait analysis). In computing: 'walk a directory/tree'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I'll walk to the shops; it's not far.
- We walked the South Downs Way last summer.
- Could you walk the neighbour's dog while they're away?
American English
- I need to walk my dog before it gets dark.
- He walked off the job after the argument.
- The batter walked, loading the bases.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form. 'Walk' is not used as an adverb.)
American English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form. 'Walk' is not used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- She uses a walk-in wardrobe. (compound adjective)
- The flat has walk-through access to the garden.
- The museum is within walkable distance.
American English
- We stored it in a walk-in closet.
- The software has a walk-through tutorial.
- It's a very walkable neighbourhood.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I walk to school every day.
- The park is a ten-minute walk from here.
- She walks her dog in the morning.
- We went for a long walk along the beach.
- If you're not happy with the service, just walk away.
- He walked into the room and everyone went silent.
- The negotiations were so difficult we almost walked away from the deal.
- You can't just walk out on your responsibilities.
- She walks a fine line between being assertive and being aggressive.
- The jury is still out, but early indicators suggest the policy will walk a political tightrope.
- After inheriting the company, he had to walk a gauntlet of sceptical investors.
- The novel's protagonist walks the reader through the complexities of post-war Berlin.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a WALK sign at a pedestrian crossing – it gives you permission to move forward on foot, one step at a time.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY (We walk the path of life.) / PROGRESS IS FORWARD MOTION (The project is walking along nicely.) / FREEDOM IS THE ABILITY TO WALK AWAY (He just walked out of the job.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'walk' for using transport. 'I walk to work' means пешком, not 'I go to work'.
- Do not confuse 'walk' with 'go for a walk' (гулять). 'Walk' as a verb is идти пешком, while 'go for a walk' is прогуливаться.
- The phrase 'walk the dog' is a fixed collocation (выгуливать собаку), not 'walk with the dog'.
Common Mistakes
- *I walked by foot to the station. (Correct: I walked to the station.)
- *She walks usually to school. (Correct: She usually walks to school.)
- *Let's make a walk. (Correct: Let's go for a walk / take a walk.)
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'walk' used in a metaphorical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Walk' is the general term. 'Hike' implies a long, vigorous walk, often in nature. 'Stroll' is a leisurely, relaxed walk for pleasure.
Yes, commonly. It can mean the activity ('go for a walk'), a specific route ('the Roman walk'), the distance covered ('a 5-minute walk'), or a manner of walking ('a peculiar walk').
It depends on context and tone. Literally, it's neutral ('Let's take a walk'). As an imperative ('Take a walk!'), it can be a dismissive or angry way of telling someone to leave.
It's part of the idiom 'talk the talk and walk the walk', meaning to act in accordance with your boasts or promises, to back up words with actions.
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