toddle

IPA/ˈtɒdl/
KK[tˈɑdəl]IPA/ˈtɑːdl/

toddle — verb

  • toddlepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • toddleshe / she / it
  • toddledpast simple
  • toddling-ing form

1. to take short, unsteady steps while moving across a surface, as a baby or very y

1.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to take short, unsteady steps while moving across a surface, as a baby or very young child does when it is still learning to walk

例句

Little Sofia toddled across the living room toward her mother, arms stretched out for balance.

toddle across [room] — pattern with direction preposition

Haruki stood, took two toddling steps, then plopped onto the rug with a happy squeal.

同義詞
  • wobble

    emphasises the swaying, unstable quality of the movement; can apply to people, animals, or objects

  • totter

    suggests a more dramatic loss of balance, as if about to fall over

  • teeter

    focuses on the moment-by-moment struggle to stay upright rather than forward movement

反義詞
  • stride

    long, confident steps — the opposite of short, uncertain steps

  • march

    purposeful, regular steps with a clear direction

文法句型

toddle + adverb/preposition

toddle across/along/down/from/to

用法筆記

This sense is used almost exclusively of babies or very young children who are just beginning to walk. Adults sometimes also use it playfully to describe their own unsteady movements, for example after an injury or on rough ground.

常見錯誤

❌The puppy toddled across the yard.
✅The puppy wobbled across the yard.
💡'toddle' is normally used for human babies, not animals.
❌She toddled the baby across the room.
✅The baby toddled across the room.
💡'toddle' is intransitive; you cannot 'toddle' someone or something.

2. to walk in a relaxed, unhurried way, usually for a short distance and without a

2.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to walk in a relaxed, unhurried way, usually for a short distance and without a particular purpose or destination

例句

After dinner, the whole family toddled down to the beach to watch the sunset.

toddle down to [place] — informal direction pattern

Amara toddled through the market, stopping now and then to look at the handmade jewellery.

同義詞
  • stroll

    more common and neutral; suggests a leisurely walk but without the playful tone of 'toddle'

  • saunter

    focuses on the casual, confident, almost lazy quality of the walk

  • amble

    describes a slow, gentle pace with no particular direction

反義詞
  • hurry

    to move quickly because of urgency; the opposite of unhurried

  • rush

    to move with speed and purpose; opposite of a relaxed walk

  • dash

    to run or move quickly over a short distance

文法句型

toddle + direction/preposition (along/down/over/to)

用法筆記

This sense is informal and often used light-heartedly. It carries the same gentle, slightly comic tone as 'stroll' but adds a hint of aimlessness. Commonly appears with direction words such as along, down, over, or through.

常見錯誤

❌She toddled 10 kilometres to the next town.
✅She toddled down to the corner shop.
💡'toddle' suggests a short, easy walk, not a long or tiring one.
❌We toddled to work because we were late.
✅We toddled through the park after lunch.
💡'toddle' implies relaxation, not hurry or urgency.