afoot

American  

[uh-foot] / əˈfʊt /

adverb

1. on foot; walking.

   I came afoot.

2. astir; in progress.

   There is mischief afoot.

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afoot British  

/ əˈfʊt /

adjective

1. in circulation or operation; astir

   mischief was afoot

2. on or by foot

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Etymology

Origin of afoot

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

Example Sentences

We’ve seen the advent of marriage equality, the #MeToo movement, the Black Lives Matter movement—there’s just been a lot of change afoot, and we’re seeing a real backlash to that.

From Slate • Mar. 10, 2026

From week to week, I try not to make a big deal of the fact that most SUVs and crossovers, regardless of pedigree, are overweight, top heavy, undersprung and generally clumsy afoot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

More plans are afoot to show the objects.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

But precious metals are in the headlines now, he added, and there are possible “tectonic” shifts afoot.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 11, 2026

Now not much time went by before Penelope learned what was afoot among the suitors.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer