Toddle

Pronunciation: /ˈtɑdəl/

Definitions of toddle

verb to walk with short, unsteady steps, like a young child learning to walk

Example Sentences

A1 The toddler toddles around the playground.

A2 She watched her baby brother toddle towards her for a hug.

B1 The elderly man struggled to toddle up the stairs.

B2 The injured athlete could only toddle slowly across the finish line.

C1 The toddler began to toddle confidently on his own two feet.

C2 Despite his age, the grandfather still enjoyed toddling around the garden with his grandchildren.

Examples of toddle in a Sentence

formal The toddler began to toddle across the room, taking small unsteady steps.

informal I love watching my niece toddle around the house, she's so cute!

slang The little one was toddling like a pro, not a care in the world.

figurative After a long day of work, I felt like I was just toddling through life without any direction.

Grammatical Forms of toddle

• past tense: toddled
• plural: toddles
• comparative: more toddle
• superlative: most toddle
• present tense: toddle
• future tense: will toddle
• perfect tense: has toddled
• continuous tense: is toddling
• singular: toddle
• positive degree: toddle
• infinitive: to toddle
• gerund: toddling
• participle: toddling

Origin and Evolution of toddle

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'toddle' is believed to have originated from the Middle English word 'todlen' which meant to walk unsteadily or to move clumsily.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'toddle' has come to specifically refer to the unsteady and wobbly way in which young children walk as they are learning to walk independently.