Meaning & use

canter

noun·Academic

A horse's gait that is faster than a trot but slower than a gallop.

See it in a sentence

The rider eased the horse into a smooth canter as they crossed the open field.

At a gentle canter, the mare covered the trail far more quickly than on foot.

A note on using this word

As a verb, to canter describes a horse moving at this pace, as in the horse cantered along the beach.

Words with a similar meaning

lope

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

galloptrot

Another way to use it

2. verb

To move at a canter, the gait between a trot and a gallop.

The horses cantered gracefully around the arena during the demonstration.

Make it your own

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