treading

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive or intransitive

   Walking or stepping, especially in a certain way or on a certain surface.

   Grammar: Often with a direction or surface: treading on the grass.

   Patterns

   • treading on something
   • treading carefully

   She was treading softly so she would not wake the baby.

   Please stop treading on the flower bed.

   The hikers were treading cautiously across the icy rocks.

2. 2verbtransitive

   Pressing down on something with the feet, so that it is crushed, flattened or squashed.

   Grammar: Takes an object: treading mud into the house.

   Patterns

   • treading something into something

   The children kept treading mud into the hallway.

   Workers were treading grapes in the old way.

   He was treading the soil down around the new plant.

3. 3verbintransitivefigurative

   Behaving or proceeding in a certain way, especially in a delicate situation.

   Grammar: Usually with an adverb: treading carefully.

   Patterns

   • treading carefully
   • treading a fine line

   The manager is treading carefully because staff morale is low.

   The film was treading a fine line between comedy and cruelty.

   We are treading new ground with this project.

Word forms

Common combinations

treading water

I was treading water in the deep end waiting for my friend.

treading carefully

The negotiators are treading carefully to avoid a fight.

treading on someone's toes

I did not mean to be treading on your toes by changing the plan.

treading a fine line

The comedian is treading a fine line between funny and offensive.

treading the boards

She has been treading the boards in provincial theaters for years.

treading new ground

The research team is treading new ground in this field.

Synonyms and how they differ

stepping

Stepping is more neutral and focuses on a single movement, while treading often suggests care or weight.

walking

Walking is general and covers any movement on foot, whereas treading highlights how or where the foot lands.

trampling

Trampling is rougher and implies crushing or damaging, while treading can be gentle.

stamping

Stamping is hard and noisy, while treading can be soft or quiet.

Word family

tread verb

to walk or step

tread noun

the patterned surface of a tire or shoe

trodden adjective

flattened by feet, as in a well-trodden path

treadmill noun

a machine for running or walking in place

Commonly confused: treading or threading?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “treading”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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