toehold

noun

toe·​hold ˈtō-ˌhōld How to pronounce toehold (audio)
1
a
: a hold or place of support for the toes (as in climbing)
b(1)
: a means of progressing (as in surmounting barriers)
(2)
: a slight footing
used his money to get a toehold, then a foothold, then a near stranglehold on the political economyR. W. Armstrong
2
: an illegal wrestling hold in which the aggressor bends or twists the other wrestler's foot

Examples of toehold in a Sentence

American companies looking for toeholds in foreign markets.
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.
After years of refining their respective processes, these companies now hope to gain a toehold in markets for EV and smartphone batteries dominated by such giants as CATL, Panasonic, and Samsung. IEEE Spectrum, 12 Sep. 2024 In those early days, scientists weren’t sure that wolves would regain a toehold in the American West. Ben Long, The Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2024 And while Peacock isn’t frequently involved in the increasingly common bidding wars, which have ratcheted up to eight figures for top comics, the platform has maintained a toehold with specials including Kevin Hart’s last hour. Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2024 Since the summer of 2014, ISIS has exploited a governance vacuum and a factional civil war in Libya to expand what was once just a toehold into a foothold. Frederic Wehrey, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2016 See all Example Sentences for toehold 

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of toehold was in 1880

Dictionary Entries Near toehold

Cite this Entry

“Toehold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toehold. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

toehold

noun
toe·​hold ˈtō-ˌhōld How to pronounce toehold (audio)
: a hold or support for the toes (as in climbing)

More from Merriam-Webster on toehold

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