underfoot

adverb

un·​der·​foot ˌən-dər-ˈfu̇t 

1

: under the foot especially against the ground

trampled the flowers underfoot

2

: below, at, or before one's feet

warm sand underfoot

3

: in the way

children always getting underfoot

Examples of underfoot in a Sentence

The ground was slippery underfoot.

We walked with dried leaves crunching underfoot.

Recent Examples on the Web

Out back, the old patio deck has been warped by rain, sun, freezes and thaws, its boards no longer laying flat but rattling underfoot. —Clark Hodgin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

There was a layer of gravel underfoot, some parts of the aqueduct’s sides were calcified, and slender white stalactites hung in clusters from above, but the superb Roman engineering was entirely intact. —Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Mar. 2025

While the midsole was soft underfoot, and delivered a light, cushioned and smooth ride, my feet pronated very little. —Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 12 Mar. 2025

For her, embracing the chaos of doing Passover with little kids underfoot is part of what makes Passover special. —​wendy Wisner, Parents, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for underfoot

• lilliput
• occiput
• tenderfoot
• afoot
• barefoot
• bigfoot
• blackfoot
• caput
• clubfoot
• cocksfoot
• crowfoot
• forefoot

Kids Definition

underfoot

adverb

un·​der·​foot -ˈfu̇t 

1

: under the feet

flowers trampled underfoot

2

: close about one's feet : in the way

a puppy always underfoot