barefoot

American  

[bair-foot] / ˈbɛərˌfʊt /

adjective

1. Also barefooted. with the feet bare.

   a barefoot boy;

   to walk barefoot.

2. Carpentry. (of a post or stud) secured to a sill or the like without mortising.

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barefoot British  

/ ˈbɛəˌfʊt /

adjective

1. with the feet uncovered

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Etymology

Origin of barefoot

before 1000; Middle English barfot, Old English bærfōt. See bare ¹, foot

Explanation

When you're barefoot, you're not wearing any shoes or socks. It might feel good to walk barefoot on a sandy beach on a warm day, but just don't try entering a restaurant barefoot. Some kids might spend the whole summer barefoot, walking down sidewalks with their sneakers in their hands, and if you're a lifeguard or a professional gymnast, you get to be barefoot at work. The Old English root of barefoot is bærfot, combining bær, "naked" or "uncovered," with fot, "foot."

Example Sentences

It has cookie dough, because sometimes hospitality means baking twelve cookies for friends, and sometimes it means baking two for yourself while standing barefoot in the kitchen.

From Salon • Jul. 11, 2026

Perhaps it’s impractical to do full-body action shots of barefoot people scampering around a rustic deck.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2026

In 1871, a Harper’s magazine article, based on pioneers’ reminiscences, created the legend of a humble, seed-scattering, barefoot wanderer.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

But the brother, who was barefoot, became exhausted and said he could no longer continue.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

As soon as the days were warm, Laura and Mary begged to be allowed to run barefoot.

From "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder