treadmill
noun
tread·mill
ˈtred-ˌmil 
1
a
: a device having an endless belt on which an individual walks or runs in place for exercise or physiological testing
b
: a mill worked by an animal treading an endless belt
c
: a mill worked by persons treading on steps on the periphery of a wide wheel having a horizontal axis and used formerly in prison punishment
2
: a wearisome or monotonous routine resembling continued activity on a treadmill
the office treadmill
Examples of treadmill in a Sentence
the treadmill of exhausting family schedules
the treadmill of the morning commute to work
Recent Examples on the Web
Hadid ended the gallery with photos of herself breaking a sweat on the treadmill and enjoying a late-night slice of pizza on the plane ride home.
—
Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 23 May 2025
The Row is also quiet (thanks to electronically adjustable resistance), easy to store upright, and features a leaderboard just like the brand’s exercise bikes and treadmill do.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 23 May 2025
So, nix that step by building a home gym that makes squeezing in a HIIT class first thing in the morning, a treadmill run at lunch or a yoga session on the fly much more doable.
—Sarah Sekula, USA Today, 17 May 2025
After an obligatory Bane impersonation and a 10 minute warm-up on the treadmill, I was asked to maintain a series of 5 minute efforts, running around 10 seconds slower than my target marathon pace in each of my test shoes.
—Kieran Alger, Wired News, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for treadmill
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Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 23 May 2025
The Row is also quiet (thanks to electronically adjustable resistance), easy to store upright, and features a leaderboard just like the brand’s exercise bikes and treadmill do.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 23 May 2025
So, nix that step by building a home gym that makes squeezing in a HIIT class first thing in the morning, a treadmill run at lunch or a yoga session on the fly much more doable.
—Sarah Sekula, USA Today, 17 May 2025
After an obligatory Bane impersonation and a 10 minute warm-up on the treadmill, I was asked to maintain a series of 5 minute efforts, running around 10 seconds slower than my target marathon pace in each of my test shoes.
—Kieran Alger, Wired News, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for treadmill
Cite this Entry
“Treadmill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treadmill. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
treadmill
noun
tread·mill
ˈtred-ˌmil
1
a
: a device moved by persons treading on steps set around the rim of a wide wheel or by animals walking on an endless belt
b
: a device having an endless belt on which an individual walks or runs in place for exercise or medical testing
2
: a tiring or monotonous routine
Medical Definition
treadmill
noun
tread·mill
ˈtred-ˌmil
: a device having an endless belt on which an individual walks or runs in place that is used for exercise and in tests of physiological functions see stress test
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