1
: to stand astride
2
: to move with or as if with long steps
strode across the room
3
: to take a very long step
2
: to step over
3
: to move over or along with or as if with long measured steps
striding the boardwalk
1
a
: a cycle of locomotor movements (as of a horse) completed when the feet regain the initial relative positions
also
: the distance traversed in a stride
b
: the most effective natural pace : maximum competence or capability
—often used in the phrase hit one's stride
2
: a long step
3
: an act of striding
4
: a stage of progress : advance
made great strides toward their goal
5
: a manner of striding
6
Synonyms
Examples of stride in a Sentence
Verb
She strode across the room towards me.
a gang of armed men strode into the bank and approached the teller
Noun
She crossed the room in only a few strides.
He was standing only a few strides away from me.
He has a distinctive bouncy stride.
She entered the room with a confident stride.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2025
Guehi can often be seen striding forward with the ball and moving Palace from back to front.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Chuck Livingston Special To The Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 8 Feb. 2025
Lynn did it at UCLA, and is righting the ship slowly at USC, the Trojans’ defense making massive strides in 2024.
—Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stride 
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Verb
This applies not just to the strange statues and alluring ruins that the film’s Cat strides through on his quest to stay dry, but character design as well.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2025
Guehi can often be seen striding forward with the ball and moving Palace from back to front.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
Marion trailed West Memphis 45-44 with 42.6 seconds left in regulation, but Cheers got behind the Lady Blue Devils' defense after a miss and Madison Glaspie hit her in stride.
—Chuck Livingston Special To The Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 8 Feb. 2025
Lynn did it at UCLA, and is righting the ship slowly at USC, the Trojans’ defense making massive strides in 2024.
—Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for stride
Dictionary Entries Near stride
Cite this Entry
“Stride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stride. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stride
2 of 2 noun1
: a step or the distance covered by a step
2
: a way of striding
3
: the most effective natural pace
—often used in the phrase hit one's stride
4
: a step forward : advance
made great strides toward their goal
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