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sneaker

sneaker

214 1.3
A light shoe with a rubber sole for sports or casual wear
  • noun
  • /ˈsniːkər/
  • US
translation icon : zapatilla deportiva
  • He bought a new pair of sneakers to wear while playing basketball at the gym.
  • wear sneakers
  • jeans and sneakers
  • a shirt and sneakers

He had his favorite Nike sneakers tattooed onto his feet.

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Examples

  • Lou is wearing her other uniform, the one for the street: jeans, sneakers, T-shirt, and a bag on her shoulder.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Has anybody seen my other sneaker?!

  • I have the pair of sneakers that I like.

  • You still changing into sneakers at the end of the day?

  • So I threw my sneakers on and I thought I look cool.

  • Last year, the United States imported 16 million pairs of these sneakers at a total cost of $35 million.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Her plain white sneakers were worn to the gray color of Spanish moss.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • On screen, the camera finds: a man in jeans, sneakers, and a sweatshirt on a street corner.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • She prefers wearing sneakers for her morning runs because they are so comfortable.

  • After a long day at work, she loves to change into sneakers and relax at home.

Synonyms

shoe
vssneaker
1.0

A covering for the foot with a sole and often a heel

is lighter and more flexible and suits sports or casual wear
footwear
vssneaker
37 1.0

Things people wear on their feet, like shoes or boots

is one specific kind within that category used for sports or casual use
tennis shoe
vssneaker
  • US
27 1.0

A light casual shoe with a rubber sole for sports and everyday wear

is used for sports or casual activities rather than only for that sport
gym shoe
vssneaker
  • US
3 1.7

A light shoe with a flexible rubber sole for sports or exercise

is used for sports or casual activities rather than only for exercise

Compounds

A new popular style of sneakers that many people wear

How Casual

flip-flop
26 2.5
sandal
94 1.0
sneaker
  • US
214 1.3
loafer
27 3.2
dress
333 1.0

Surface Forms

sneaker singular
sneakers plural

Morphology

sneaker = sneak (semi-transparent) = sneak + er

Formed by productive suffixation (-er) from 'sneak' but the specific meaning 'a shoe that enables quiet movement' is metaphorical and not directly obvious to all learners.

Etymology

The word sneaker comes from the word sneak, which means 'move quietly', because the soft rubber sole lets you walk without making noise. That's why sneakers are light, comfortable shoes often used for sport and casual wear.