foothold

noun

foot·​hold ˈfu̇t-ˌhōld How to pronounce foothold (audio)
1
: a hold for the feet : footing
2
: a position usable as a base for further advance

Examples of foothold in a Sentence

The army gained a foothold on the island. The company has secured a foothold in the market.
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.
Ars Video Now, Firefly finds itself at the top of the pack of firms seeking to gain a foothold at the Moon. Ars Technica, 18 Mar. 2025 Although conditions were perfect for a populist surge—Germany’s economy is stagnant, and a car attack by an Afghan refugee 10 days before the vote helped keep immigration at the forefront of the national conversation—the AfD struggled to gain a foothold outside the former East Germany. Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025 More than 10,000 were built over the four-year production run, and unlike the less-numerous E36 / E50 / E60 models from before, it was sold in North America, helping AMG establish a foothold in the United States and Canadian markets that would help propel it to future success. Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2025 The new Syrian government has yet to firmly establish a safe foothold in the country and faces threats from Assad sympathizers who supported his decadeslong rule. Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for foothold

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of foothold was circa 1577

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Cite this Entry

“Foothold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foothold. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

foothold

noun
foot·​hold -ˌhōld How to pronounce foothold (audio)
1
: a hold for the feet : footing
2
: a position usable as a base for further advance

More from Merriam-Webster on foothold

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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