1 A2 neutral
To continue walking without stopping.
"Despite the cold, they walked on until they reached the village."
inseparable
walk on
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To continue walking, or to appear briefly in a performance without speaking.
In plain English
Keep walking and don't stop, or appear in a play/film with a tiny part where you don't speak.
What does "walk on" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To appear in a play, film, or TV show in a very small, non-speaking role.
"He got to walk on in a West End production when he was a drama student."
inseparable
3 C1 idiomatic informal
(American English, sports) To join a college sports team as a non-scholarship athlete by demonstrating skill at a tryout.
"He wasn't recruited, but he walked on and made the football team anyway."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To continue moving forward on foot.
Actually means
Keep walking and don't stop, or appear in a play/film with a tiny part where you don't speak.
Usage tip
The theatrical sense ('walk-on part' or 'walk-on role') is a fixed collocation in British and American English. 'Walk on' as a sports term refers to joining a college team without a scholarship (chiefly American English).
Words that pair with "walk on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
stage part role team campus eggshells
How to conjugate "walk on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
walk on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
walks on
he/she/it
Past simple
walked on
yesterday
Past participle
walked on
have + pp
-ing form
walking on
continuous
Hear "walk on" in the wild
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Other ways to say "walk on"
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Keep exploring
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