foothold

noun

foot·​hold ˈfu̇t-ˌhōld How to pronounce foothold (audio)
1
: a hold for the feet : footing
2
: a position usable as a base for further advance

Examples of foothold in a Sentence

The army gained a foothold on the island. The company has secured a foothold in the market.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Japanese basketball stars are still struggling to find a foothold in the league. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025 Shops, restaurants and bars in downtown Hartford have, for decades, struggled to gain — and retain — a strong foothold. Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2025 Liza Koshy found success on the now-defunct Vine video platform before finding a foothold on YouTube. Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 9 July 2025 Once the populations gained a foothold, word of mouth among HMong people encouraged more to make their way to these places. Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for foothold

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of foothold was circa 1577

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Cite this Entry

“Foothold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foothold. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

foothold

noun
foot·​hold -ˌhōld How to pronounce foothold (audio)
1
: a hold for the feet : footing
2
: a position usable as a base for further advance

More from Merriam-Webster on foothold

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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