know how to walk before one can run

A form of learn to walk before one can run — To learn how to perform simple tasks before one can perform a more complicated task.

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Meanings

verbknow how to walk before one can run (third-person singular simple present knows how to walk before one can run, present participle knowing how to walk before one can run, simple past knew how to walk before one could run, past participle known how to walk before one could run)

present singular third person knows how to walk before one can run · participle present knowing how to walk before one can run · past knew how to walk before one could run · participle past known how to walk before one could run

  1. alternativeAlternative form of learn to walk before one can run.

    Just like you need to know how to walk before you can run, you need to know how to use Access before you can start to use Access VBA.

    2011, Alan Simpson, Access 2007 VBA Programming For Dummies, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 9
Cite this entry
APA

know how to walk before one can run. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/know%20how%20to%20walk%20before%20one%20can%20run

MLA

“know how to walk before one can run.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/know%20how%20to%20walk%20before%20one%20can%20run. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “know how to walk before one can run,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/know%20how%20to%20walk%20before%20one%20can%20run.

Source: know how to walk before one can run on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.