Stride means to walk with long, confident steps. When you stride across a room, you're not shuffling or tiptoeing: you're moving purposefully, with your head up and your steps covering plenty of ground. Picture someone who just aced a test striding down the hallway, or an athlete striding onto the field, ready to compete.

The word carries a sense of confidence and energy. A nervous person might creep or shuffle, but someone who strides walks like they know exactly where they're going and feel good about getting there.

As a noun, a stride is one of those long steps. A tall basketball player might cross the court in just a few strides. People also use the phrase hit your stride to mean finding your rhythm and doing your best work. After struggling with piano practice for weeks, you might suddenly hit your stride and find everything flowing naturally.

When someone takes something in stride, they handle a problem or setback calmly, without getting upset or thrown off course. If your team loses a game but you take it in stride, you stay positive and focus on practicing for next time.