What does walking mean?
Walking is the activity of moving on foot, and it is one of the most ordinary forms of human travel. The word can describe a single action, as in “She was walking home,” or a regular habit, as in “Walking is good exercise.” It also functions as a gerund noun: walking is a form of transportation, a form of exercise, or a pastime. In everyday use, walking often suggests an ordinary, relatively slow, and sustainable way of moving from one place to another, although it can also refer to long walks taken for pleasure, such as walking in the countryside. As an adjective, walking may describe a person who is able to move on foot or a condition involving ambulatory movement. Although the vocabulary surrounding walking can sound grander, such as strolling, hiking, or trekking, the basic term remains neutral and widely used in formal and informal English.
To move on foot.
"They walked through the old town for several hours."
Walking is the present participle of walk, used for an action in progress, a habitual activity, or an ongoing mode of travel.
The activity or habit of moving on foot.
"Walking in the hills is his favorite way to spend a weekend."
This is a gerund noun and is generally uncountable.
Able to walk, or relating to movement on foot.
"The clinic provides specialized care for walking patients."
This use is less common and often occurs in specialized or idiomatic expressions.
The word walking comes from an Old English verb whose deeper origin remains uncertain, preserving a small linguistic mystery in an everyday word.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does walking come from?
Walking derives from walk, which has existed in English since the Old English period as wealcan. The deeper origin of that Old English verb is uncertain, although it is generally connected with a Germanic root associated with moving or wandering. English later developed the agent noun walker and the derivatives walkway and walkable, all sharing the same basic lexical root.
Related word forms
How walking is actually used
As a verb form, walking is the present participle of walk and normally describes an action in progress or a habitual activity. As a noun, it functions as a gerund and is generally uncountable. The adjective use is less frequent and often informal or idiomatic.
Easily confused with walking
Walking refers to moving on foot, whereas waking refers to becoming or being awake.