It was a crisp autumn morning, and I decided to stroll (1) through the park to clear my mind. The path was lined with trees shedding their golden leaves, and I found myself moving slowly, taking it all in. As I passed the old oak, I noticed a couple sauntering (2) along, deep in conversation, hardly aware of their surroundings.

Further down the path, a man in uniform was marching (3) briskly, likely on his way to work, his steps purposeful and steady. I couldn’t help but admire the confidence in his stride (4) as he moved with determination, like someone with a destination in mind.

As I continued, I saw a woman pacing (5) back and forth by the lake, clearly deep in thought, her movements rapid but distracted. A few feet away, a young boy was scurrying (6) along, almost stumbling over his shoes in his excitement to reach the swings.

Nearby, an elderly couple was ambling (7) hand in hand, moving at a relaxed pace, enjoying the morning in each other’s company. They passed a man who was limping (8), likely nursing an injury but still determined to make it to the bench by the fountain.

I decided to take the longer trail, which led me up a winding hill. The terrain became rocky, and soon I was tramping (9) through the underbrush, my boots crunching on the dry leaves and gravel. As I climbed higher, I found myself wandering (10) off the main trail, unsure of where I was going but curious to see where the path would take me.

At the summit, I paused to catch my breath, noticing a deer creeping (11) cautiously through the trees below, moving with quiet grace as if trying not to disturb the peace. I stood still, not wanting to startle it, but just as I was about to resume my hike, I heard a loud stomp (12) behind me. Turning around, I saw a group of hikers descending the hill, their heavy boots pounding the earth.

Finally, after a long trek, I decided it was time to glide (13) down the slope, enjoying the thrill of moving effortlessly downhill, letting gravity do the work. By the time I reached the bottom, the sun had started to set, and I felt a sense of accomplishment—each step had brought me somewhere new.

1. to stroll /stroʊl/ – to walk in a slow relaxed way, especially for pleasure
2. to saunter /ˈsɑːn.t̬ɚ/ – to walk in a slow and relaxed way, often in no particular direction
3. to march – to walk somewhere quickly and in a determined way, often because you are angry
4. to stride (strode; stridden) – to walk somewhere quickly with long steps
5. to pace – to walk with regular steps in one direction and then back again, usually because you are worried or nervous
6. to scurry /ˈskɝː.i/ – to move quickly, with small, short steps
7. to amble – to walk in a slow and relaxed way
8. to limp – to walk slowly and with difficulty because of having an injured or painful leg or foot
9. to tramp – to walk, especially long distances or with heavy steps
10. to wander /ˈwɑːn.dɚ/ – to walk around slowly in a relaxed way or without any clear purpose or direction
11. to creep (crept; crept) – to move slowly, quietly, and carefully, usually in order to avoid being noticed
12. to stomp – to walk with intentionally heavy steps, especially as a way of showing that you are annoyed
13. to glide – to move easily without stopping and without effort or noise