footstep
gb/fˈʊtstˌɛp/ us/fˈʊtstˌɛp/
A2
English
~ 1700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
event
1
sound of a foot when walking
The noise you hear when someone’s foot hits the ground while walking.
Usage pattern:
hear [someone’s] footsteps
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'footstep' with 'footprint', but 'footstep' refers to a sound or act, not a mark on the ground.
Synonyms
tread (Slightly more formal or literary term for the sound of a step.)
Antonyms
silence (Absence of any sound, including footsteps.)
Collocations
hear footsteps
|approaching footsteps
|echoing footsteps
|footsteps behind you
Themes
daily life
|movement
|sound
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I heard footsteps coming down the hall.
- Her footsteps echoed in the empty corridor.
- 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.
- Her footsteps are very quiet.
- We hear footsteps on the stairs.
- His footsteps are loud on the floor.
Noun
A2
action
2
act of taking one step
One step that you take when you walk.
Usage pattern:
take [a] footstep
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'footstep' instead of 'step' in everyday speech; 'step' is more common for counting movements.
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.)
Collocations
take a footstep
|first footstep
|final footstep
Themes
daily life
|movement
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He took a few cautious footsteps forward.
- Each footstep brought him closer to the door.
- 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.
- She stopped after one footstep.
- We walked five footsteps to the door.
- He moved three footsteps forward.
Noun
B1
relation
3
path or example set by another
The way someone else lived or worked, which you copy or follow.
Usage pattern:
follow in [someone’s] footsteps
Common mistake:
Learners may take this expression literally when it is meant figuratively for career or life choices.
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.)
Collocations
follow in footsteps
|trace footsteps
|retrace footsteps
Themes
life choices
|career
|core_vocabulary
|education
Examples
- She followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a teacher.
- He hopes his son will follow in his footsteps and join the family business.
- 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.
- She followed in her sister’s footsteps and became a doctor.
- He followed in his teacher’s footsteps.
- They do not want to follow in his footsteps.
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.