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.
The opportunity to gain a foothold in Europe will be too good (and too low cost) to pass up. Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024 However, key fentanyl smuggling routes, which were initially established in San Diego as the synthetic opioid gained its foothold in the U.S. drug market, have appeared to shift east to Arizona. Kristina Davis, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024 Lil Durk is among the most successful drill rappers to come out of Chicago since the genre first gained a foothold. Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 25 Oct. 2024 The collaboration with NetEase Cloud Music strengthens Kakao Entertainment’s foothold in Greater China and opens doors for further expansion in the region. Jeff Benjamin, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near foothold

Cite this Entry

“Foothold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foothold. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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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