: the arched middle portion of the human foot in front of the ankle joint
especially: its upper surface
2
: the part of a shoe or stocking that fits over the instep
Illustration of instep
instep 1
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebWith your feet hip-width apart, lift your leg and place the instep of your rear foot on the bench.—K. Aleisha Fetters, Outside Online, 14 Dec. 2017 At first, the instep and heel were almost too spacious, but some lacing tweaks (for example, dog-ears in the top eyelets) secured my foot.—Elizabeth Carey, Outside Online, 13 Jan. 2020 This pair wraps your instep, forefoot, and toes in warmth, giving you full coverage and even heat distribution.—Danny Perez, Popular Mechanics, 23 Dec. 2022 Mesh ventilation on the instep ensures superb breathability from toe to heel.—Mike Richard, Men's Health, 20 Dec. 2022 There are three versions for every instep height to keep your foot secure to deliver comfort and longevity in the long run.—Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2022 The outcome: a slightly narrower instep (from top to bottom), a narrower heel hold, and a dense rubber segment on the medial outsole to keep feet from rolling inward, since women tend to pronate more than men.—Cory Smith, Outside Online, 27 May 2022 The foot has length, width, instep girth, arch height, and metatarsal toe bar measurements, to cite just a few.—Greg Tunney, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 Get in a half-kneeling stance, right knee on the floor, right instep on a box or bench behind you.—Ebenezer Samuel, Men's Health, 23 Aug. 2022 See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'instep.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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