foothold

noun

foot·​hold ˈfu̇t-ˌhōld 

1

: a hold for the feet : footing

2

: a position usable as a base for further advance

The company secured a foothold in the market.

Synonyms of foothold

• base
• camp
• fortress

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

As music factories and generative tools take over entry-level work, newcomers risk losing a vital foothold in the industry. — Ben Croll, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

The Odeds and Weingartens faced competition from companies like Premier Dead Sea, which was also gaining a foothold in the States with its own family of brands. — Monika Evstatieva, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026

Following a global crackdown on fentanyl, a class of cheap, potent synthetics called nitazenes gained a foothold in the illicit drug market starting in 2019. — Mary Jane Gibson, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026

Yet as midterm elections draw near, the movement is nearly invisible on the campaign trail and struggling to find a financial or messaging foothold in key races. — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for foothold

• ahold
• behold
• billfold
• blindfold
• cajoled
• consoled
• controlled
• cotswold
• eightfold
• enfold
• enrolled
• extolled

Kids Definition

foothold

noun

foot·​hold -ˌhōld 

1

: a hold for the feet : footing

2

: a position usable as a base for further advance