# ankle

/ˈæŋkəɫ/ (US) · /ˈæŋkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ankle
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. body part

noun · CEFR A2

the joint where your foot joins your leg.

For teachers: the joint connecting the foot with the leg, specifically the region of the talus and the malleoli of the tibia and fibula.

- He tripped on the stairs and twisted his ankle while carrying the groceries.
- The athlete suffered a severe sprain to her left ankle during the final minutes of the championship match, requiring immediate medical attention.

### 2. to walk

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · American English

to walk from one place to another.

For teachers: to travel on foot; used as an intransitive verb in informal or hard-boiled contexts.

- After the car broke down, we had to ankle it all the way back to town.
- The detective decided to ankle over to the corner deli to see if the clerk remembered seeing the suspect.

Usage: Often used with 'it' as in 'to ankle it'.

### 3. cycling technique

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to move your foot at the ankle while pedalling a bicycle to get more power.

For teachers: to use the ankle joint to flex the foot during a pedal stroke to maintain a smooth application of force.

- The coach showed the cyclists how to ankle properly to improve their speed.
- By learning to ankle effectively, the cyclist was able to maintain a higher cadence and reduce muscle fatigue during the long climb.

## Examples

- I hurt my ankle while playing soccer.
- She wore a supportive brace on her left ankle to prevent another injury during the marathon.
- The surgeon explained that the complex ligaments surrounding the ankle provide stability during lateral movements but remain vulnerable to sudden twisting forces on uneven terrain.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.