treading water

A form of tread water — To remain afloat in the water without use of any buoyancy aid, by using kicking motions and hand motions.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of tread water
Cite this entry
APA

treading water. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/treading%20water

MLA

“treading water.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/treading%20water. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “treading water,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/treading%20water.

Source: treading water on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.