Meaning & use
strides
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“strides” is a form of “stride”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Long, firm steps taken while walking.
Grammar: Plural of stride: take long strides.
Patterns
- take long strides
- in a few strides
He crossed the room in three long strides.
The tall girl takes huge strides when she walks.
With a few quick strides she reached the door.
nounpluralfigurative
Clear progress or improvement made in doing something.
Grammar: Usually follows make, with a following adjective: make great strides.
Patterns
- make strides in something
- great strides toward something
The company has made great strides in reducing waste.
Scientists have made huge strides toward a cure.
She has made real strides since starting piano lessons.
verbintransitive
Third person singular of stride: walks with long, confident steps.
Grammar: No object; usually followed by a direction: she strides into the room.
Patterns
- stride across something
- stride into something
She strides into the office as if she owns it.
He strides along the beach every morning.
The manager strides across the field to greet the team.
Common combinations
- make great strides
- The team has made great strides this season.
- long strides
- The giraffe moved with long strides.
- strides in technology
- Medicine has made strides in technology.
- take something in your stride
- She took the bad news in her stride.
- strides forward
- The country has taken strides forward in education.
Synonyms and how they differ
- steps
- Steps are any single movements of the foot, while strides are long, confident ones.
- progress
- Progress is the general word for forward movement, while strides emphasizes noticeable, rapid advances.
- advances
- Advances are specific improvements, often in science or technology, whereas strides suggests steady personal or organizational progress.
- paces
- Paces measure distance in steps and are more precise, while strides focus on the manner of walking.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: strides or strived?
strides vs strived
Strive means to try very hard; it is not the same word as stride, though both look similar.
Practice
Over the past decade the city has made great ___ in cutting air pollution.
Choose one answer.
Make strides means make clear progress, which fits cutting pollution. Steps back would imply the opposite, and delays and debts do not collocate with made great.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “strides”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.