footwork

noun

foot·​work ˈfu̇t-ˌwərk 

1

: the activity of moving from place to place

the investigation entailed a lot of footwork

2

: the management of the feet (as in boxing)

also : the work done with them

3

: active and adroit maneuvering to achieve an end

fancy political footwork

Examples of footwork in a Sentence

The investigation required a lot of footwork.

He used quick footwork to dodge his opponent.

The tango involves some fancy footwork.

He knows that getting enough votes for the proposal is going to require some fancy political footwork.

Recent Examples on the Web

At 6-4, 200 pounds, the corner possesses speed, footwork and the smoothness to match up in any coverage. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

Silayev skates very well for his size and has excellent footwork and a smooth stride, with strong four-way mobility. — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Shooting mechanics will be a focus of this upcoming camp since that’s Hodges’ specialty, but attendees will also work on other areas, including footwork, defense, ball-handling and basketball IQ training. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026

That’s what happens when college recruiters discover someone with size, good footwork and the ability to improve. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for footwork

• artwork
• beadwork
• berserk
• breastwork
• brickwork
• brushwork
• casework
• classwork
• clockwork
• coursework
• ductwork
• earthwork

Kids Definition

footwork

noun

foot·​work -ˌwərk 

: the movement of the feet (as in boxing)