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Glite Dictionary
to toddle

to toddle

7 4.2
To move with short unsteady steps like a child learning to walk
  • verb
  • /ˈtɑːdəl/
translation icon : caminar
  • Archie giggles and, satisfied, toddles right back out again.
  • baby toddling
  • little children toddle
  • child toddled

Archie giggles and, satisfied, toddles right back out again.

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Examples

  • Mom lowers Susie to the floor, and Susie begins to toddle about the kitchen.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Little Reggie toddled over the lawns of the Frost estate with his nanny traipsing along, blowing bubbles.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • From the time I was big enough to toddle, I possessed a dog of my own, a perfect German shepherd.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Watching her little fellow toddling off in his best bib and tucker.

    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

  • Jamie toddled over to the car door and reached for the handle, snapping it open and shut.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Lucy leaves the piano and toddles over to Annie's loom and plays with a ball of yarn.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Candelaria's youngest child, Aura, toddled around the inside of our circle and cooed at our efforts.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Instantly, he gets a picture: Paula toddling toward him, hands outstretched, joy on her pudgy face.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • The two-year-old toddles to Terminator and grabs his pants, sliming them with drool.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Ben broke away and toddled toward the other kids in the yard.

Synonyms

to waddle
vsto toddle
22 4.1

To walk with short steps and a clumsy side to side movement like a duck

is small forward steps by a child learning to walk
to totter
vsto toddle
11 4.8

To walk in an unsteady way as if about to fall

is milder, short learning steps rather than imminent falling
to daddle
vsto toddle
  • Archaic
9.9

To walk with small, unsteady steps

is gentler, short steps by a child learning to walk
to coggle
vsto toddle
9.9

To walk in a wobbly way as if about to fall

is steadier small steps typical of a young learner

How Steady

to stride
16 2.7
to walk
∞ 1.0
to toddle
7 4.2
to totter
11 4.8
to stumble
129 1.6

Surface Forms

toddle infinitive
toddled past
toddled past participle
toddling present participle
toddles third person singular

Etymology

The word toddle likely comes from simple baby talk and is closely linked to the familiar word toddler, a little child who takes short, wobbly steps. Think of the tiny, uneven walking of a child — that's why to toddle means to walk with small, unsteady or slow steps.