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.
Its maverick approach to media and its broadening foothold in the industry may be its saving grace in the eyes of regulators. Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2025 Sudan’s dry season provides peak fighting conditions, and Dagalo has gained a major strategic foothold with the takeover last month of the Sudanese city of El Fasher, said Khair. Laura Kelly, The Hill, 29 Nov. 2025 Novo has been forced to implement dramatic price cuts, first by roughly 50% to $499, and then even further to $349, in efforts to retain its foothold. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2025 Who knows what sad history lies in Mai Viro’s past, who has found a little foothold in the house of Malik Awan? Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 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 14 Dec. 2025.

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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