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
Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Perched atop hillsides or stilts, fire lookout towers are still effective at alerting officials of a potential blaze.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 23 Mar. 2025
Urban planners worry an overreliance on single-family residences to raise taxes and house new citizens could stilt the city’s growth.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for stilt
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Noun
From the comfort of the parking lot, guests can spot whimbrels, black-necked stilts and American oystercatchers, while the occasional black skimmer—a striking seabird that uses its lengthy lower bill to skim the water for prey—can be spotted as well.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Perched atop hillsides or stilts, fire lookout towers are still effective at alerting officials of a potential blaze.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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
Urban planners worry an overreliance on single-family residences to raise taxes and house new citizens could stilt the city’s growth.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for stilt
Cite this Entry
“Stilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stilt. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
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