as in ongoing
being in progress or development
plans are afoot for a new sports stadium in the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of afoot
Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Lately, though, change is afoot.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
And just like that, the game is afoot.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2025
While the Korean War was a not-so-distant memory and the Cold War was already afoot, the United States would soon be reeling from the Vietnam War, sending tens of thousands of young men into battle and death.
—Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
Movements for women’s liberation and gay and lesbian rights were newly afoot and fighting for greater social acceptance and legal protections.
—Time, 7 Aug. 2025
Change is afoot in your social circle.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
All of it gave the vibe that something special is afoot.
—Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Lately, though, change is afoot.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
And just like that, the game is afoot.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2025
While the Korean War was a not-so-distant memory and the Cold War was already afoot, the United States would soon be reeling from the Vietnam War, sending tens of thousands of young men into battle and death.
—Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
Movements for women’s liberation and gay and lesbian rights were newly afoot and fighting for greater social acceptance and legal protections.
—Time, 7 Aug. 2025
Change is afoot in your social circle.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afoot
Adjective
-
Authorities are combing through video from the scene, including this video which appears to show a person on the roof immediately following the shooting, according to sources familiar with the ongoing investigation.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
-
D4vd is currently on tour, making a stop in Milwaukee this weekend before the body discovery unfolded, and planned to continue his shows despite the ongoing investigation.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Last year, though revenue and operating profit increased, non-operating red ink pushed the company into a full-year loss of NT$766 million, or $25 million.—
Russell Flannery,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
The adjusted net income decreased by 8% y-o-y to $3.9 billion in the first nine months of 2022 due to higher expenses as a % of revenues and lower non-operating income.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes,
11 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Afoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afoot. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share