afoot

[uh-foot]

adverb

1. on foot; walking.

   I came afoot.

2. astir; in progress.

   There is mischief afoot.

afoot

/ əˈfʊt /

adjective

1. in circulation or operation; astir

   mischief was afoot

2. on or by foot

Word History and Origins

Origin of afoot¹

First recorded in 1175–1225, afoot is from Middle English a fote, on fote. See a- ¹, foot

Example Sentences

Trier trusts his audience to understand that something deeper and more thorny is afoot here, without laying out information plainly.

Read more on Salon

Something bigger was afoot: that by-election last month was as much about who was going to lose as it was about who was going to win.

Read more on BBC

But Miss Mortimer’s letter seemed to imply that there was actual trouble afoot.

Read more on Literature

The game afoot isn’t lost on the State Department.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Lately, gold has been falling alongside U.S. stocks, which suggests a more dire situation for markets could be afoot — especially if it means there is no safe haven for investors to turn to.

Read more on MarketWatch