# treadmill

/ˈtɹɛdˌmɪɫ/ (US) · /tɹˈɛdmɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/treadmill
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. exercise machine

noun · CEFR B1

a piece of gym equipment with a moving belt that you walk or run on while staying in the same place.

For teachers: an exercise machine consisting of a continuous moving belt on which a person can walk or run in place.

- I usually spend twenty minutes on the treadmill at the gym before I start lifting weights.
- The fitness centre recently upgraded its facilities with high-tech treadmills that allow users to simulate various outdoor terrains and inclines.

### 2. tiring routine

noun · CEFR B2

a job or situation that is boring and tiring because you do the same thing over and over without getting anywhere.

For teachers: a repetitive, monotonous, or exhausting task or lifestyle that feels impossible to escape or advance from.

- He felt like he was on a treadmill, working long hours just to pay the bills without ever saving money.
- Many young professionals find themselves trapped on a corporate treadmill, sacrificing their personal lives for promotions that only bring more stress.

### 3. historical prison device

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a large wheel turned by people stepping on it, used in the past as a punishment in prisons.

For teachers: a historical device for prison discipline consisting of a large revolving cylinder with steps on the outside, turned by the weight of people treading on them.

- In the nineteenth century, prisoners were often forced to work on a treadmill for hours as a form of hard labour.
- The Victorian penal system utilised the treadmill not only for its mechanical output but as a psychological tool to enforce absolute obedience through physical exhaustion.

## Examples

- I run on the treadmill for thirty minutes every morning.
- After a long day at the office, she finds that a brisk walk on the treadmill helps her clear her head.
- Many young professionals find themselves trapped on a corporate treadmill, working increasingly long hours to maintain a lifestyle they are too exhausted to actually enjoy.

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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.