Over 60 Ways to Walk

First, a Definition of “Walk” (as a verb)
from Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828 edition.

WALK, verb intransitive [Sax. wealcan, to roll or revolve; wealcere, a fuller, whence the name Walker; D. walken, to work a hat; G. walken, to full, to felt hats; walker, a fuller, Sw. valkare; Dan. valker, to full or mill cloth; valker, a fuller; valke a pad or stuffed roll; G. wallen, to stir, to be agitated, to rove, to travel, to wander. From the same root are Russ. valyu, G. wälzen, to roll, and wälsch, foreign, Celtic, Welsh, that is wanderers. The primary sense is simply to move or press, but appropriately to roll, to press by rolling, as in hatting, and this is the origin of walker, for the practice of felting hats must have preceded that of fulling cloth in mills. Our ancestors appropriated the verb to moving on the feet, and the word is peculiarly expressive of that rolling or wagging motion which marks the walk of clownish people.]

  1. To move slowly on the feet; to step slowly along; to advance by steps moderately repeated; as animals. Walking in men differs from running only in the rapidity and length of the steps; but in quadrupeds, the motion or order of the feet is sometimes changed.

    At the end of twelve months, he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. Daniel 4:37.

    When Peter had come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. Matthew 14:29.

  2. To move or go on the feet for exercise or amusement. Hundreds of students daily walk on Downing terrace in Cambridge.

  3. To appear, as a specter.

    The spirits of the dead may walk again. (Shak.)

  4. To act on any occasion.

    Do you think I'd walk in any plot? (Obs. — B. Jonson)

  5. To be in motion, as a clamorous tongue.

    Her tongue did walk in foul reproach. (Obs. — Spenser)

  6. To act or move on the feet in sleep.

    When was it she last walkd? (Shak.) [But this is unusual. When we speak of noctambulation, we say, to walk in sleep.]

  7. To range; to be stirring.

    Affairs that walk, as they say spirits do at midnight. (Shak.) [Unusual.]

  8. To move off; to depart.

    When he comes forth he will make their cows and garrans walk (Spenser) [Not elegant.]

  9. In Scripture, to live and act or behave; to pursue a particular course of life.

    To walk with God, to live in obedience to his commands, and have communion with him. Genesis 5:22.

    To walk in darkness, to live in ignorance, error and sin, without comfort. 1 John 1:6.

    To walk in the light, to live in the practice of religion, and to enjoy its consolations. 1 John 1:7.

    To walk by faith, to live in the firm belief of the gospel and its promises, and to rely on Christ for salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:7.

    To walk through the fire, to be exercised with severe afflictions. Isaiah 43:2.

    To walk after the flesh, to indulge sensual appetites, and to live in sin. Romans 8:1.

    To walk after the Spirit, to be guided by the counsels and influences of the Spirit and by the word of God, and to live a life of holy deportment. Romans 8:1.

    To walk in the flesh, to live this natural life, which is subject to infirmities and calamities. 2 Corinthians 10:3.

    To walk in, to enter, as a house. Walk in, gentlemen.

WALK, verb transitive

  1. To pass through or upon; as, to walk the streets. [This is elliptical for to walk in or through the street.]

  2. To cause to walk or step slowly; to lead, drive or ride with a slow pace. He found the road so bad he was obliged to walk his horse. The coachman walked his horses from Woodbridge to Princeton.

Original Sixty Collected by Mark Nichol

Amplified and edited by Bob Sander-Cederlof

  1. Amble: walk easily and/or aimlessly.
  2. Bounce: walk energetically.
  3. Clomp or Clump: walk heavily and/or clumsily.
  4. Falter: walk unsteadily.
  5. Foot it: depart or set off by walking.
  6. Footslog: walk through mud.
  7. Gimp: walk with a limp.
  8. Hike: take a long walk, especially in a park or a wilderness area.
  9. Hobble: walk in an awkward way, typically because of pain from an injury.
  10. Hoof it: walk or run, emphasizing the use of one’s feet as opposed to other means of travel.
  11. Leg it: walk very quickly.
  12. Limp: walk unsteadily because of injury, especially favoring one leg.
  13. Lumber: walk slowly and heavily.
  14. Lurch: walk slowly but with sudden movements, or furtively.
  15. March: walk rhythmically alone or in a group according to a specified procedure.
  16. Mince: walk delicately.
  17. Mosey: walk or move in a leisurely manner.
  18. Nip: walk briskly or lightly; also used colloquially in the phrase “nip (on) over” to refer to a brief walk to a certain destination, as if on an errand.
  19. Pace: walk precisely to mark off a distance, or walk intently or nervously, especially back and forth.
  20. Parade: walk ostentatiously, as if to show off.
  21. Perambulate: walk or travel through or around a place or area, especially for pleasure and in a leisurely way; or walk to inspect or measure a boundary.
  22. Peregrinate: travel or wander around from place to place.
  23. Plod: walk slowly and heavily, as if reluctant or weary.
  24. Pound: walk with heavy steps.
  25. Power walk: walk briskly for fitness.
  26. Prance: walk joyfully, as if dancing or skipping.
  27. Promenade: take a leisurely walk, ride, or drive in public, especially to meet or be seen by others.
  28. Pussyfoot: walk stealthily or warily (also, be noncommittal)
  29. Ramble: walk or travel aimlessly (also, talk or write aimlessly, or grow wildly)
  30. Roam: move about or travel aimlessly or unsystematically, especially over a wide area.
  31. Sashay: walk in an ostentatious yet casual manner, typically with exaggerated movements of the hips and shoulders.
  32. Saunter: to walk about easily, in a slow, relaxed manner, without hurry or effort.
  33. Scuff: to walk without lifting one’s feet.
  34. Shamble: move with a slow, shuffling, awkward gait.
  35. Shuffle: walk by dragging one’s feet along or without lifting them fully from the ground.
  36. Stagger: walk unsteadily (also, confuse or hesitate, or shake)
  37. Stalk: walk stealthily, as secretly following someone; or, walk in a proud, stiff, or angry manner.
  38. Step: walk, or place one’s foot or feet in a new position.
  39. Stomp: walk heavily, as if in anger.
  40. Stride: walk with long, decisive steps in a specified direction.
  41. Stroll: walk in a leisurely way.
  42. Strut: walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait.
  43. Stumble: walk clumsily or unsteadily, or trip.
  44. Stump: walk stiffly and noisily.
  45. Swagger: walk with aggressive self-confidence.
  46. Tiptoe: walk carefully on the toes or on the balls of the foot, as if in stealth.
  47. Toddle: move with short unsteady steps while learning to walk, as a toddler walks.
  48. Totter: move in a feeble or unsteady way; perhaps about to fall from losing balance.
  49. Traipse: walk wearily or reluctantly.
  50. Tramp: walk heavily or noisily; walk through or over a place wearily or reluctantly and for long distances.
  51. Trample: walk so as to crush something underfoot.
  52. Traverse: walk across or over a distance.
  53. Tread: walk slowly and steadily or other specified way (as “tread softly” or “tread carefully”).
  54. Trip: walk with quick light steps.
  55. Tromp: walk heavily.
  56. Troop: walk in unison, or collectively.
  57. Trot: go or walk briskly.
  58. Trudge: walk slowly and with heavy steps, typically because of exhaustion or harsh conditions.
  59. Waddle: walk clumsily or as if burdened, swinging the body.
  60. Wander: walk or move in a leisurely, casual, or aimless way.

More Beyond Sixty

Collected by Bob Sander-Cederlof
  1. Catwalk: walk the way female models walk, which is similar to walk of a cat; usually performed on elevated platform (called ramp) by models to demonstrate clothing and accessories during a fashion show.
  2. Circulate: move continuously or freely through a crowd or an area.
  3. Creep: move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being heard or noticed.
  4. Dance: move in a quick and lively way.
  5. Dawdle: walk slowly and idly, wasting time.
  6. Drift: walk slowly, aimlessly, or casually: people began to drift away.
  7. Edge: move gradually, carefully, or furtively in a particular directionedge your way through the crowd.
  8. Escort: walk with someone, especially for protection or security.
  9. File: (of a group of people) walk one behind the other, typically in an orderly and solemn manner: the mourners filed into the church.
  10. Flounce: go or move in an exaggeratedly impatient or angry manner.
  11. Knock about: to wander about aimlessly.
  12. Make my rounds: circulate through a group or place.
  13. Meander: wander at random.
  14. Moonwalk: walk on the surface of the moon; dance the moonwalk (a dance with a gliding motion, in which the dancer appears to be moving forward but in fact is moving backwards).
  15. Noctambulate: walk about at night, or walk in one’s sleep.
  16. On foot: (Go on foot, travel on foot) go somewhere by walking.
  17. Patrol: regularly walk around or through an area to keep watch over it.
  18. Pitter-patter: walk with quick light steps or taps.
  19. Pound the beat: (of a police officer) patrol an assigned route or area.
  20. Pound the pavement: walk the streets in an effort to accomplish something.
  21. Prowl: move around restlessly and stealthily, especially in search of or as if in search of prey.
  22. Putter: move or go in a casual, unhurried way.
  23. Slink: move smoothly and quietly with gliding steps, in a stealthy or sensuous manner.
  24. Slog: walk or move with difficulty or effort.
  25. Sneak: move or go in a furtive or stealthy manner.
  26. Somnambulate: walk in one’s sleep.
  27. Stray: move away aimlessly from a group or from the right course or place.
  28. Stretch one’s legs: go for a short walk after sitting in one place for some time.
  29. Tippytoe: walk on the tips of one’s toes; tiptoe.
  30. Trek: go on a long arduous journey, typically on foot.
  31. Wade: walk in shallow water.
  32. Zombie walk: walking like a zombie: lifeless, apathetic, completely unresponsive to surroundings.