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.
Hanging on to some portion of their land and its advantages gives the Agua Caliente a foothold to rebuild and fight back. Michael Albertus, TIME, 15 Jan. 2025 Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images/Anadolu via Getty Images Avian influenza has a grip on dairy herds in California, a few people have fallen seriously ill in North America and researchers have found that a single mutation could give the virus a better foothold in a person's upper airways. Will Stone, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024 The veteran actress has found a foothold in Wes Anderson’s company of actors, appearing in Moonrise Kingdom (2012) and The French Dispatch (2021). Danny Horn, EW.com, 29 Dec. 2024 The cruise line will further cement its U.S. foothold with the upcoming MSC World America, launching in April 2025. Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near foothold

Cite this Entry

“Foothold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foothold. Accessed 22 Jan. 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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