toe
toh
Toe (noun) means any of the five digits at the end of the human foot. Example: “The baby giggled as her father tickled each little toe.”
noun
1
Any of the five digits at the end of the human foot.
"The baby giggled as her father tickled each little toe."
"He wiggled his big toe through the hole in his sock."
"She stubbed her toe on the coffee table."
2
The part of a shoe or sock that covers the toes.
"I need new socks because the toe has worn thin."
"These work boots have a steel toe to protect your feet."
"The toe of his boot was worn through."
verb
1
To touch or reach something with the toes.
"The child toed the water gently to see how cold it was."
"She toed the loose stone to check whether it would move."
"He toed the starting line, waiting for the whistle."
How to use toe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of the five small digits on the foot; also used for the front tip of a shoe, sock, or object.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "tow" (to pull a vehicle) — they sound alike but are unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
toe the line
on your toes
tip-toe
big toe
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Word forms
- Plural
- toes
- Third person singular
- toes
- Past tense
- toed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The baby giggled as her father tickled each little _____.
Etymology
From Old English tā, from a Proto-Germanic root related to "showing" or "pointing" — related to Latin dīcere ("to say") and digitus ("finger").
Related words
Rhymes for toe
See all rhymes for toe →Frequently asked questions
What does “toe” mean?
The word “toe” means any of the five digits at the end of the human foot. In plain terms, one of the five small digits on the foot; also used for the front tip of a shoe, sock, or object.
How do you pronounce “toe”?
“Toe” is pronounced toh (/toʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “toe” in a sentence?
Here is “toe” used in a sentence: “She stubbed her toe on the coffee table.”
What is the opposite of “toe”?
The opposite of “toe” — its antonyms — are heel and tail.
What part of speech is “toe”?
Depending on how it is used, “toe” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “toe” come from?
The word “toe” comes from Latin. From Old English tā, from a Proto-Germanic root related to "showing" or "pointing" — related to Latin dīcere ("to say") and digitus ("finger").
Is “toe” a common word?
“Toe” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “toe” have?
“Toe” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: any of the five digits at the end of the human foot.
Is it "toe the line" or "tow the line"?
The correct idiom is toe the line, meaning to conform to rules or authority. It comes from the literal sense of toe, to touch or reach something with the toes, as in runners or soldiers standing with their toes touching a marked line; "tow the line" is a common misspelling because toe and tow sound identical.
What are the toes called?
Only two toes have everyday names: the big toe, known anatomically as the hallux, and the little toe, informally called the pinky toe in American English. The middle three are usually just numbered second, third and fourth.
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