toe

1 of 2

noun

1
a(1)
: one of the terminal members of the vertebrate foot
(2)
: the fore end of a foot or hoof
b
: a terminal segment of a limb of an invertebrate
c
: the forepart of something worn on the foot
the toe of a boot
2
: a part that by its position or form is felt to resemble a toe
the toe of Italy
: such as
a
: a lateral projection at one end or between the ends of a piece (such as a rod or bolt)
b
: the lowest part (as of an embankment, dam, or cliff)
3
toeless adjective

toe

2 of 2

verb

toed; toeing

transitive verb

1
: to touch, reach, or drive with the toe
toe a football
2
: to furnish with a toe
toe a sock
3
: to drive (something, such as a nail) obliquely
also : to clinch or fasten by or with nails or rods so driven

intransitive verb

1
: tiptoe
2
: to stand, walk, or be placed so that the toes assume an indicated position or direction
toe in
Phrases
on one's toes toe to toe
: facing one another
toe the line or toe the mark
: to conform rigorously to a rule or standard

Examples of toe in a Sentence

Noun He felt the sand between his toes. I accidentally stepped on her toe. I stubbed my toe on the table's leg. My sock has a hole in the toe. the toe of her boot the toe of the peninsula Verb She toed off her shoes. The pitcher toed the rubber.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Ami Paris look saw Drescher bathed in sequins from head to toe. Lorena Meouchi, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024 The Louis Vuitton ambassador was decked out in the brand head to toe with a custom suit and a rose gold variation of the Maison’s Tambour. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 All-female squads of religious police pressure women to cover head to toe in the black niqab; violators have been dragged to makeshift Sharia courts, where judges order floggings and executions. Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Circadian clocks keep time everywhere from your liver and lungs to your nose and toes. TIME, 9 Mar. 2024 It’s often called a swap meet, but the stalls are like small stores, with permanent walls and shelves, where a customer can not only dress and accessorize head to toe but also get a manicure and a tattoo, haggling over prices to get a good deal. Ashley Ahn, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Ulta is doing a buy more save more promo on body care products that will slough off dry winter skin and rehydrate you from head to toe. Nicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 Star-spangled from head to toe, Kinsley Murray, from the state of Washington, sang before Monday’s game against the Toronto Raptors and drew attention from her passionate performance and patriotic gear. The Indianapolis Star, 1 Mar. 2024 Now, this very spring offers a tranquil respite, serving as a communal foot bath where weary travelers and locals alike dip their toes into the warm embrace of history. Jonny Bierman, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2024
Verb
In the ensuing years, the writer who once prided himself on telling the truth has increasingly toed the party line in public speeches. Nectar Gan, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 That is saying something given that four starting pitchers who reported to the team’s temporary spring headquarters in Lake Buena Vista a year ago will not be toeing the rubber in the familiar confines of Port Charlotte Sports Park this spring. Tom Layberger, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 Then there’s the classic Turkish towel, which also toes this blanket/towel line. Emily Johnson, Bon Appétit, 1 Feb. 2024 Rapper 21 Savage Wears The Million-Dollar Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag In the fashion capital Paris, the Atlanta rapper was dripped out head to toe Louis Vuitton. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 17 Nov. 2023 If your feet and hands tend to get cold, try using hand or toe warmers in your gloves and boots. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024 So have Fox News and other bombastic media outlets, which spread misinformation about climate and clean energy and punish conservatives who don’t toe the party line. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2024 Other tasters agreed, saying the flavor was lively and perfectly toed the line between briny and fishy. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 8 Jan. 2024 Rather, such an entertainer must toe that fine line between sucking up to those being feted and doing the kind of ribbing that’ll get enough laughter to register on a telecast. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'toe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English to, from Old English ; akin to Old High German zēha toe

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1660, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of toe was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near toe

Cite this Entry

“Toe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toe. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

toe

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: one of the jointed parts of the front end of a vertebrate foot
b
: the front end or part of a foot or hoof
c
: the front end or part of something worn on the foot
2
: something that resembles a toe

toe

2 of 2 verb
toed; toeing
: to touch, reach, or kick with the toes

Medical Definition

toe

noun
: one of the terminal members of a vertebrate's foot
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!