walking
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.the act or exercise of going for a walk.
n.the act of traveling on foot, typically for recreation, exercise, or as a mode of transport.
Simple“Walking is a great way to see the city without spending money on buses.”
In context“Daily walking has been shown to significantly improve cardiovascular health and mental well-being in adults of all ages.”
UsageOften functions as an uncountable noun when referring to the sport or hobby.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.used to describe a person who is a perfect example of a specific quality.
adj.serving as a living or personified example of a particular attribute or state.
Simple“My grandfather is a walking encyclopedia of local history.”
In context“The lead investigator was described by his colleagues as a walking disaster, prone to losing critical evidence at every turn.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
adj.a style of music, especially in jazz, where the bass plays a steady, regular beat like footsteps.
adj.denoting a bass line characterized by continuous, equal-value notes that create a sense of forward motion.
Simple“The jazz band used a walking bass line to keep the rhythm steady.”
In context“The bassist maintained a sophisticated walking line throughout the bridge, providing a harmonic foundation for the saxophone solo.”
UsageAlmost exclusively used in the phrase 'walking bass' or 'walking line'.
Usage walking distance
From Middle English walkynge, walkinge, walkinde, walkende, walkand, walkande, from Old English wealcende (attested as Old English wealcendes), from Proto-Germanic walkandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic walkaną (“to roll, trample, walk”), equivalent to walk + -ing.
From Middle English walkyng, walkinge, equivalent to walk + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.