These words relate to ways people move on foot. All are of moderate informality. Walk is the most general and neutral of these, encompassing all manner of moving on foot short of running or leaping. Stride refers to a swift, purposeful way of walking; it suggests long steps and an energetic rhythm: striding through the station a few minutes before the train’s departure. Amble , stroll and saunter , in sharp contrast with stride , suggest a slow, wandering movement without a clear-cut goal; each may furthermore suggest laziness, leisure, indecisiveness or simply the enjoyment of walking. Amble emphasizes a leisurely but even movement, smooth and uninterrupted: ambling along without stopping at any of the displays. The smooth, swaying motion suggested derives from a horse’s amble , in which two feet on one side are lifted together, alternately, with the two feet on the other side. Stroll emphasizes a slower movement, more wandering and aimless, with suggestions of many starts and pauses: strolling through the park with an occasional rest on a secluded bench. Saunter suggests an even movement, like amble , but it emphasizes ebullience of mood as well. One might stroll while concerned with disagreeable thoughts, but one would hardly saunter in such a state of mind: whistling as he sauntered along the beach.

The rest of these words describe the manner of a person’s walk rather than commenting on its larger intent. Strut and swagger intensify the cheerfulness of saunter . Swagger suggests showy over-confidence or inflated egotism; it applies mostly as a negative comment: swaggering through crowds of autograph-seekers. Strut is even more disapproving in tone than swagger, suggesting an affected posture of bombastic self-importance: the politician who strutted about the room like a latter-day Napoleon.

Waddle means to walk with short steps, swaying from side to side like a duck. When applied to people it suggests an awkward, laborious gait, such as that of a very fat person.