foothold

noun

foot·​hold ˈfu̇t-ˌhōld How to pronounce foothold (audio)
1
: a hold for the feet : footing
2
: a position usable as a base for further advance

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.
China conducted military exercises in Serbia in July despite stern warnings from the European Union, and Belgrade provides Beijing with a security foothold in Europe. Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025 Create footholds for bats to roost. Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025 For Putin and his generals, the plant served as a foothold from which to push deeper into southern Ukraine. Simon Shuster, Time, 23 Oct. 2025 Former President Barack Obama is making the New Jersey governor’s race a fresh test of his electoral influence as Democrats seek to keep Republicans from gaining a foothold in a traditionally blue state. Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foothold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foothold. Accessed 27 Oct. 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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