foothill

noun

foot·​hill ˈfu̇t-ˌhil 

1

: a hill at the foot of higher hills

2

foothills plural : a hilly region at the base of a mountain range

Examples of foothill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ironically, the city’s position in a beautiful valley—encircled by the ridges of the Cumberland Plateau, at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains—also led to some persistent environmental issues. — Daliah Singer, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026

Consider purchasing a small town in the Sierra Nevada foothills. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026

The area’s forests, shrublands, and grassy foothills were perilously overgrown. — Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026

From Clarksburg south of Sacramento to Auburn and the foothills farther north, wineries are scattered throughout the region. — Melissa May, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for foothill

• anthill
• backfill
• bluegill
• crossbill
• distil
• distill
• downhill
• dunghill
• fulfil
• fulfill
• goodwill
• gristmill

Kids Definition

foothill

noun

foot·​hill -ˌhil 

: a hill at the foot of higher hills or mountains