foothold

noun

foot·​hold ˈfu̇t-ˌhōld How to pronounce foothold (audio)
Synonyms of footholdnext
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.

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.
Biased algorithms are beginning to erase the middle-income rungs of the economic ladder—the very administrative and operational roles that underestimated groups have historically used to gain a foothold in the middle class. Katica Roy, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025 Ruiz has stolen 77 bases in 96 attempts in the big leagues, but his inability to get on base consistently - combined with a 2024 wrist injury that sidelined him more than four months - have prevented him from establishing a big-league foothold since his rookie season. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025 Her complicity has facilitated a drug smuggling operation through the prison that's lent them a foothold in Kingstown. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Dec. 2025 The future could be electric, but EVs haven't become popular enough in America for production to be profitable and sustainable for some major automakers looking to create a foothold in the space. Charles Singh, Nashville Tennessean, 22 Dec. 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 7 Jan. 2026.

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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