# trodden

/ˈtɹɑdən/ (US) · /tɹˈɒdən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trodden
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

to have stepped or walked on something — it is the past form of 'tread'. You see it in phrases about paths or grass that many feet have pressed down.

For teachers: past participle of 'tread'; refers to having stepped or walked on a surface so as to press it down. Often appears in the phrase 'well-trodden' to describe a frequently used path or routine.

## Examples

- Visitors have trodden a clear path through the grass.
- The hikers followed the well-trodden trail up the hill to avoid getting lost in the forest.
- Generations of pilgrims have trodden the stone steps to the shrine, wearing shallow dips where countless feet have pressed.

## Usage notes

- Forms perfect tenses with 'have' ('have trodden'); often used as an adjective in 'well-trodden' before a noun.

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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.