stride

Everyday

1. To stride is to walk with long, quick, confident steps. tree →
2. A stride is one long step, or the length of a step. tree →
3. «Make strides» or «make great strides» means to make good progress, to get better. tree →
4. «Take it in your stride» means to deal with a problem calmly. tree →

In the lessons

In PE and running, «stride length» is how far one step reaches; athletes lengthen their stride to run faster. In maths and science you can measure a distance by counting strides — a non-standard unit. In stories «he strode into the room» shows confidence or anger. Teachers write in reports «you have made great strides in reading». Phrases: «get into your stride», «take something in your stride», «make strides».

Examples

• He strode across the playground. tree →
• The giant took huge strides. tree →
• Measure the classroom in strides. tree →
• Her stride is longer than mine. tree →
• You've made great strides in maths this year. tree →
• She took the bad news in her stride. tree →
• The runner got into her stride after the first lap. tree →
• In two strides he reached the door. tree →

Note

Irregular: stride, strode, stridden. «Strode» is the past (he strode), «stridden» is rare. A stride is a long step; a «step» can be short. Maths: if one stride is 1 metre, 25 strides ≈ 25 metres.