What does stilting mean?
Stilting means walking or balancing on stilts, narrow supports that elevate a person's feet above the ground. The word can name the activity as a noun, as in "the exhibition of stilting," or function as a verb in phrases such as "crossing the river by stilting." Stilts have long been used in places where water, mud, or uneven ground makes walking difficult, and they also feature in folk performances, circus acts, and demonstrations of balance. In figurative descriptions, stilting may evoke an elevated, slightly awkward, or highly controlled way of moving. Although the activity is associated with unusual height and careful balance, it can be graceful and purposeful rather than clumsy. The word is used in both British and American English and is especially common in discussions of traditional performance and travel over wet or uneven terrain.
The activity of walking or balancing on stilts.
"The traditional performers specialized in stilting on the festival stage."
Usually an uncountable noun, especially when referring to the activity as a whole.
To walk or move on stilts.
"He has been stilting along the beach since childhood."
Most often encountered in the present participle or gerund form, such as "is stilting" and "steadily stilting."
Stilting is normally an uncountable noun when it refers to the activity. A plural form is not generally used.
"The audience watched the stilting performance with great interest."
From flooded rice fields to circus stages, stilting turns elevated walking into a spectacle of balance and rhythm.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How stilting is actually used
The noun is generally uncountable and refers to an activity rather than a number of people or objects. As a verb, it usually appears in the present participle, as in "is stilting," or in the gerund form "stilting." The word can also describe long-legged movement that resembles walking on stilts, especially in descriptions of birds.
Easily confused with stilting
Stilting is the physical activity of walking on stilts, whereas stilted describes writing, speech, or behavior that is excessively formal or affected.