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

The same forces that produce earthquakes are also what led gold to form in the Sierra foothills, inciting the state's famous rush. — Rong-Gong Lin Ii Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 2 Aug. 2026

Propelled by strong winds and low humidity, the flames quickly spread over foothills and through canyons. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026

The broader draw is that this part of the foothills can offer a wine-country lifestyle without the traffic and price tags of Napa and Sonoma. — Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Set in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood’s Splash Country was inspired by the mountain swimming holes Dolly Parton visited as a child growing up in the region. — Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 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