trotting
trotting — verb
- trottingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- trottings3rd person singular
- trottinging-ing form
- trottingedpast simple
1. A horse trots when it moves at a speed between walking and cantering, lifting di
A horse trots when it moves at a speed between walking and cantering, lifting diagonal pairs of legs — the left front with the right back, then the right front with the left back — in a steady rhythm.
On the racetrack, Brooke's horse trotted past the other riders during the warm-up.
past tense: horse + trotted + location phrase
The old pony trotted slowly along the country path while Rin held the reins gently.
Caleb watched the foal trot across the field after its mother.
bare infinitive after perception verb: watch + horse + trot
A group of horses trotted in a circle around the riding instructor.
- trot along
- trot across
- trot past
- trot slowly
- trot steadily
- walk
slower four-beat gait with no moment of suspension
Grammar Patterns
horse + trot
Usage Note
The verb describes the horse's natural gait, not a command — it is what horses do, not what riders tell them to do.
Common Mistakes
2. When a person trots, they walk with quick, short steps, often because they are i
When a person trots, they walk with quick, short steps, often because they are in a hurry or need to get somewhere fast.
Lakshmi trotted down the stairs when she heard the doorbell ring.
person + trotted + direction phrase
The office assistant trotted between desks, delivering messages all morning.
Pedro trotted to the bus stop, hoping he would not miss the seven o'clock bus.
trot + to + destination + purpose clause
Nia trotted across the square to catch up with her friends.
- trot down
- trot across
- trot over
- trot along
- trot to
- stroll
walk slowly and relaxed, without hurry
Grammar Patterns
person + trot + direction phrase
Usage Note
Unlike 'run,' trotting suggests shorter, lighter steps and usually covers a short distance. Frequently used with prepositions of direction (down, across, along, to).
Common Mistakes
3. To say or produce something too quickly or without much thought, especially an e
To say or produce something too quickly or without much thought, especially an excuse, reason, or opinion that has been used before.
During the meeting, the manager trotted out the same old excuses for the delay.
phrasal use: trot out + noun phrase
Rin trotted out a series of facts without checking if any were correct.
At the debate, Caleb trotted out statistics that his opponent quickly proved wrong.
phrasal use: trot out + statistics / facts / excuses
The politician trotted out the same promises she had made five years earlier.
- trot out
- trot out excuses
- trot out facts
- trot out arguments
- recite
neutral, no implication of speed or carelessness
- rattle off
similar informality, emphasizes speed over thoughtfulness
Grammar Patterns
trot out + noun phrase
Usage Note
Almost always used with the particle 'out' (trot out). The tone is critical — it suggests the information is tired, unoriginal, or not carefully considered.
Common Mistakes
4. When a person trots, they move forward at a speed that is faster than walking bu
When a person trots, they move forward at a speed that is faster than walking but slower than sprinting, often as part of a fitness routine or to cover a short distance.
Every morning, Adina trots along the riverside path for thirty minutes.
habitual present: trots + along + path + duration
Dewi trotted around the park three times before stopping to stretch.
The group of joggers trotted at an easy pace through the neighborhood.
trot + at + pace phrase
Brooke trots two miles every day to stay in shape for the basketball season.
- trot along
- trot around
- trot for
- trot at a steady pace
- sprint
run at top speed over a short distance
Grammar Patterns
person + trot + distance/time phrase
Usage Note
Overlaps with 'jog' in meaning, but 'trot' often suggests a slightly slower or more casual pace. Common with distance phrases (trot two miles) and time phrases (trot for twenty minutes).
Common Mistakes
5. To cause a horse to move at a trot by using reins, legs, or voice commands.
To cause a horse to move at a trot by using reins, legs, or voice commands.
The rider trotted her horse along the edge of the forest.
transitive: rider + trot + horse + direction
Ignacio gently trotted his pony to the front of the line.
Reuben learned how to trot his horse in a straight line during the lesson.
learn how to + trot + horse + in a straight line
Layla trotted the borrowed mare around the paddock to test her temperament.
- trot a horse
- trot a pony
- trot along
- trot around
Grammar Patterns
rider + trot + horse
Usage Note
This is the transitive, causative sense — the rider is the subject doing the action, and the horse is the object. Distinguish from sense 1, where the horse itself is the subject.
Common Mistakes
trotting — noun
1. The way of moving that a horse uses when it trots — a speed between walking and
The way of moving that a horse uses when it trots — a speed between walking and cantering where diagonal legs move together.
The horse broke into a steady trot as they left the stable yard.
collocation: break into a trot
Aoi could feel the smooth rhythm of the pony's trot beneath the saddle.
The carriage moved forward at a quick trot over the cobblestone road.
prepositional: at a + adjective + trot
Riding at a trot was bumpier than Layla had expected from watching other riders.
- at a trot
- break into a trot
- steady trot
- slow trot
Grammar Patterns
at a trot
break into a trot
Usage Note
Often used with the preposition 'at' (at a trot). Common modifiers include 'slow,' 'steady,' 'quick,' and 'gentle.'
Common Mistakes
2. A slow, steady run by a person, at a speed between walking and running.
A slow, steady run by a person, at a speed between walking and running.
After missing the bus, Rin broke into a trot to reach the office on time.
collocation: break into a trot (person)
Lakshmi set off at a light trot through the morning fog.
The children moved at a playful trot as they followed their teacher through the museum.
at a + adjective + trot
Brooke kept up a gentle trot for the entire length of the wooden bridge.
- at a trot
- break into a trot
- light trot
- gentle trot
Grammar Patterns
at a trot
set off at a trot
Usage Note
For humans, 'trot' is less common than 'jog' for exercise, but it appears naturally when describing a quick, light run over a short distance. Often describes easy, unhurried movement.
Common Mistakes
3. An informal way of referring to diarrhea — a medical condition where solid waste
An informal way of referring to diarrhea — a medical condition where solid waste from the body is passed too often and in liquid form.
The spicy food gave Adina a bad case of the trots that lasted all night.
collocation: have/get/give + the trots
Caleb joked that the street food had given him the trots.
Tourists often get the trots when they are not used to the local drinking water.
collocation: get the trots
Roya stayed home from school because she had a bad case of the trots.
- the trots
- have the trots
- get the trots
- case of the trots
- diarrhea
the standard medical term; formal register
- runny tummy
child-friendly informal term, less common
Grammar Patterns
have/get the trots
Usage Note
Always used with the definite article 'the' in the plural form 'the trots.' This is informal — use 'diarrhea' in formal or medical writing. Frequency: less common than 'diarrhea' in most contexts.
Common Mistakes
4. A word-for-word rendering of a text from one language into another, sometimes us
A word-for-word rendering of a text from one language into another, sometimes used by students who want a shortcut instead of learning the language properly.
The teacher caught Dewi using a trot to translate the Latin passage.
collocation: use a trot
Pedro bought a trot of the French novel to help with his homework.
Some students rely on trots instead of actually learning the grammar rules.
plural: trots
Selim hid his trot inside the textbook during the Japanese reading quiz.
- use a trot
- trot of
- buy a trot
Grammar Patterns
use a trot
trot of + text
Usage Note
This sense is most common among students of classical languages (Latin, Ancient Greek). The term carries a slightly negative tone because using a trot is often seen as cheating or taking a shortcut.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/4
These four verbs describe different ways of running. 'Trot' and 'jog' are the closest pair: both mean a slow, steady run, but 'jog' is the standard word for running as exercise ('I jog three miles every morning'), while 'trot' sounds slightly more casual or old-fashioned and often suggests shorter steps or a shorter distance ('She trotted to the corner store'). 'Lope' describes a long, easy stride, often graceful — you might lope across a field, but you would not lope on a treadmill. 'Sprint' is the opposite of all three: running at full speed over a short distance. For exercise contexts, use 'jog'; for quick, light movement over a short distance, 'trot' or 'lope' can add a more descriptive feel.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'trot' comes from Old French 'troter' (to trot, to go), which can be traced back to a Germanic root meaning 'to tread' or 'to step.' It entered English around the 14th century, first describing the horse's gait and later extending to human movement and other figurative uses. The noun sense for 'literal translation' (early 19th century) comes from the idea of a student 'trotting' through a text with the help of a word-for-word guide.
First known use
14th century
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1 Noun (1)