barefoot
Americanadjective
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Also barefooted. with the feet bare.
a barefoot boy;
to walk barefoot.
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Carpentry. (of a post or stud) secured to a sill or the like without mortising.
adjective
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Stroll down, barefoot, and it’s a free shiatsu foot massage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Wilfrank Liendo, 40, and his 21-year-old son, Eduardo, are barefoot as they cross a stream and follow simple dirt paths to deliver the heavy bags to Wilfrank's elderly mother.
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
Years ago, Rebecca became obsessed with barefoot shoes.
From Slate ● Jul. 16, 2026
He is also known for his California fashion sense, often barefoot without tie.
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
Francis, barefoot and still in his bathrobe, stepped precariously over rocks and branches, balancing his glass of ginger ale.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
