as in base
a place from which an advance (as for military operations) is made
don't let the opposing team push us back down the field and gain a foothold
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Recent Examples of foothold
With his roots in the Wolverine State and ongoing ownership of the Pistons, he is believed to maintain a foothold in Michigan.
—
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2026
In between all that, the host also managed to explain that everyone would be broken up into three groups, with each group going to Tribal Council, and the person who could last longest on narrow footholds for each group would win individual immunity.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
That can mean gaining multiple footholds, altering authentication settings or gaining access via third parties.
—William Akoto, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Russia's Syrian foothold collapsed with him.
—Joseph Epstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foothold
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2026
In between all that, the host also managed to explain that everyone would be broken up into three groups, with each group going to Tribal Council, and the person who could last longest on narrow footholds for each group would win individual immunity.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
That can mean gaining multiple footholds, altering authentication settings or gaining access via third parties.
—William Akoto, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Russia's Syrian foothold collapsed with him.
—Joseph Epstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foothold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foothold
Noun
-
This V-neck camisole is our pick for a lacy, statement base layer with its endless styling potential and dainty, feminine finish.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Shohei Ohtani extended his streak of reaching base to 48 consecutive games with an intentional walk by Raley in the eighth.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There’s a large homeschooling population, and, about fifteen miles from downtown, a Catholic organization runs a property affectionately known as Catholic Familyland—a cross between a summer camp and a retreat center.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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The Chinese government launched a brutal crackdown in Xinjiang starting in 2017, sweeping a million or more Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other predominantly Muslim ethnicities into prisons and internment camps.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At Pembroke Castle, staff say the discovery adds a new dimension to the site's long history as a medieval fortress and birthplace of Henry VII in 1457.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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As Oda’s army closes in from outside, a young samurai is murdered within the castle walls, triggering a series of bizarre incidents that throw the fortress into paranoia and suspicion.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foothold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foothold. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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