footstep
gb/fˈʊtstˌɛp/ us/fˈʊtstˌɛp/
A2
English
~ 1700
léptek, lépés, valakinek a nyomdokaiba lép, követi valakinek a példáját
NOUN
A2
1
léptek
A2
Usage pattern:
hear [someone’s] footsteps
I heard footsteps coming down the hall.
Lépteket hallottam közeledni a folyosón.
Her footsteps echoed in the empty corridor.
Léptei visszhangoztak az üres folyosón.
He quickened his pace when he heard footsteps behind him.
The soft footsteps barely disturbed the silence.
Footsteps approached from around the corner.
Learner examples
I hear footsteps outside my door.
Lépteket hallok az ajtóm előtt.
Her footsteps are very quiet.
Nagyon halkak a léptei.
We hear footsteps on the stairs.
His footsteps are loud on the floor.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'footstep' with 'footprint', but 'footstep' refers to a sound or act, not a mark on the ground.
Meaning
sound of a foot when walking
Collocations
hear footsteps
|approaching footsteps
|echoing footsteps
|footsteps behind you
Synonyms
tread (Slightly more formal or literary term for the sound of a step.)
Antonyms
silence (Absence of any sound, including footsteps.)
Themes
daily life
|movement
|sound
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The noise you hear when someone’s foot hits the ground while walking.
The sound produced by a foot touching the ground while walking or running.
NOUN
A2
2
lépés
A1
Usage pattern:
take [a] footstep
He took a few cautious footsteps forward.
Tett néhány óvatos lépést előre.
Each footstep brought him closer to the door.
Minden egyes lépés közelebb vitte az ajtóhoz.
She paused after only one footstep.
The soldier advanced with heavy footsteps.
I counted ten footsteps to the gate.
Learner examples
He took two footsteps.
Két lépést tett.
She stopped after one footstep.
Egy lépés után megállt.
We walked five footsteps to the door.
He moved three footsteps forward.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'footstep' instead of 'step' in everyday speech; 'step' is more common for counting movements.
Meaning
act of taking one step
Collocations
take a footstep
|first footstep
|final footstep
Synonyms
step (Most common general term for moving one foot forward; 'footstep' is more specific and often more descriptive.)
Antonyms
standstill (A state of not moving at all, opposite of taking a step.)
Themes
daily life
|movement
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
One step that you take when you walk.
A single act of moving one foot forward when walking or running.
NOUN
B1
3
Usage pattern:
follow in [someone’s] footsteps
She followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a teacher.
Anyja nyomdokaiba lépett, és tanár lett.
He hopes his son will follow in his footsteps and join the family business.
Reméli, hogy a fia a nyomdokaiba lép, és csatlakozik a családi vállalkozáshoz.
Many young athletes try to follow in the footsteps of their idols.
After college, she retraced her father’s footsteps through Europe.
They refused to follow in his footsteps and chose a new path.
Learner examples
I want to follow in my father’s footsteps.
Szeretnék apám nyomdokaiba lépni.
She followed in her sister’s footsteps and became a doctor.
Nővére nyomdokaiba lépett, és orvos lett.
He followed in his teacher’s footsteps.
They do not want to follow in his footsteps.
Common mistake:
Learners may take this expression literally when it is meant figuratively for career or life choices.
Meaning
path or example set by another
Collocations
follow in footsteps
|trace footsteps
|retrace footsteps
Synonyms
path (General word for the route or course someone takes, physically or figuratively.)
Antonyms
diverge (To go in a different direction instead of following someone's path.)
Themes
life choices
|career
|core_vocabulary
|education
Definition
The way someone else lived or worked, which you copy or follow.
The position, path, or example followed by someone else, especially as a model for behavior or career.
Grammar
Dictionary form
footstep
IPA
GB/fˈʊtstˌɛp/
US/fˈʊtstˌɛp/
Syllables & stress
foot - step (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (foot)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: footstep
- Plural: footsteps
Word family
Expressions
echo of footsteps
1/ˈɛkoʊ əv fˈʊtstˌɛps/
fixed phrase
literary
sound reflection of steps
The repeating sound of steps when it bounces off walls or surfaces.
Examples
- The echo of footsteps filled the empty hall.
- We could hear the echo of our footsteps on the stone floor.
retracing one's footsteps
1/ɹitɹˈeɪsɪŋ wˈʌnz fˈʊtstˌɛps/
fixed phrase
go back the same way you came
To go back over the same way you walked before, usually to find something lost or remember something.
Examples
- He retraced his footsteps to find his lost wallet.
- We spent the afternoon retracing our footsteps through the old town.
follow in someone's footsteps
1/fˈɑloʊ ˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz fˈʊtstˌɛps/
idiom
Take same path as someone else
To do the same job or live like someone did before you, often a family member.
Examples
- She followed in her mother's footsteps and became a teacher.
- She followed in her father’s footsteps and became a lawyer.
- He followed in his father's footsteps and became a doctor.
- Many young athletes hope to follow in their heroes’ footsteps.
- Many young musicians try to follow in the footsteps of famous artists.
- Many young athletes hope to follow in the footsteps of their heroes.