footfall

noun

foot·​fall ˈfu̇t-ˌfȯl 

: the sound of a footstep

Examples of footfall in a Sentence

She heard footfalls echoing in the hall.

Recent Examples on the Web

Annual footfall on the Champs-Élysées rose 10 percent in 2025 to 73 million visitors. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026

Amidst the footfalls are screams and wails; the asphalt is littered with body parts, blurred for broadcast. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

De Montpellier said shops and shopping centers face lower footfall, closures and lost sales; hotels, cafés, restaurants and travel services risk losing activity that customers are less likely to reschedule. — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026

Thunderous applause may greet one documentary premiering at the Venice Film Festival, fitting for a story of athletes who shake the earth with every footfall. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for footfall

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids Definition

footfall

noun

foot·​fall ˈfu̇t-ˌfȯl 

: the sound of a footstep