foothold

noun

foot·​hold ˈfu̇t-ˌhōld 

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.

Synonyms of foothold

• base
• camp
• fortress

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

But then in the mid-1980s, nonnative lake trout gained a foothold. — Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 23 Sep. 2026

Sandals and its Beaches brand, meanwhile, have more than a dozen properties across the Caribbean, giving Royal Caribbean a foothold in all-inclusive options. — Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026

Now the local competitor is trying to build its own foothold in Tel Aviv using its strengths. — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026

Some went to cities that have long been magnets for immigrants — New York, Miami — but increasingly, others found their way to smaller cities with less developed immigrant footholds. — Will Jarrett, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for foothold

• ahold
• behold
• billfold
• blindfold
• cajoled
• consoled
• controlled
• cotswold
• eightfold
• enfold
• enrolled
• extolled

Kids Definition

foothold

noun

foot·​hold -ˌhōld 

1

: a hold for the feet : footing

2

: a position usable as a base for further advance