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.
Even when companies say user data wasn't directly accessed, breaches show how easily attackers can get a foothold through phishing and weak accounts. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026 That changed with the embargoes and boycotts of the First World War—exactly the time that Eastern European Jews were getting their American foothold. Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 The team relied on a strong defense that kept Manning and the rest of the Broncos' offense from getting a foothold. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026 Since then, the British government has worked tirelessly to carve out a deal that satisfies Mauritius without losing its defensive foothold. Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foothold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foothold. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.

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

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