1
a
: one of two poles each with a rest or strap for the foot used to elevate the wearer above the ground in walking
b
: a pile or post serving as one of the supports of a structure above ground or water level
2
plural also stilt
: any of several very long-legged 3-toed shorebirds (genera Himantopus and Cladorhynchus) that are related to the avocets, frequent inland ponds and marshes, and nest in small colonies
Examples of stilt in a Sentence
Noun
a circus performer walking on stilts
Recent Examples on the Web
William Curtis, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2026
Elevated rooms—some villas sit on stilts above the jungle floor, giving full treehouse vibes—offer total immersion within the thick, humid jungle, underscored by wild birds, hypnotic cicadas, and the swing of mischievous monkeys.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
The Spartans, conversely, bring almost a Big Ten-football mentality to the court, trying to stilt the flow of the game by defending and rebounding well.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stilt
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Noun
With multiple restaurants on stilts above the ocean, panoramic dining is guaranteed, but some of our favorite bites were the tapas-style seafood dishes at Out of the Sea and fresh sushi at Out of the Blue.
—William Curtis, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2026
Elevated rooms—some villas sit on stilts above the jungle floor, giving full treehouse vibes—offer total immersion within the thick, humid jungle, underscored by wild birds, hypnotic cicadas, and the swing of mischievous monkeys.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
Verb
The word stilt comes from Middle English stilt(e), meaning a crutch or support.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
The Spartans, conversely, bring almost a Big Ten-football mentality to the court, trying to stilt the flow of the game by defending and rebounding well.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stilt
Cite this Entry
“Stilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stilt. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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