foothold
Americannoun
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a place or support for the feet; a place where a person may stand or walk securely.
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a secure position, especially a firm basis for further progress or development.
They gained a foothold in the New York market before beginning their national campaign.
noun
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a ledge, hollow, or other place affording a secure grip for the foot, as during climbing
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a secure position from which further progress may be made
a foothold for a successful career
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of foothold
Explanation
A foothold is a flat or steady area on which you can put your foot when you're climbing. Part of the trick to rock climbing is learning to find good footholds. A literal foothold is wide enough for you to fit your foot and sturdy enough to hold your weight, and a figurative foothold gives you this same sense of security, usually setting you up to make progress. For example, your first published magazine piece can give you a foothold in the field of freelance writing. This sense of foothold dates from the mid-17th century, meaning "stable ground from which to act."
Vocabulary lists containing foothold
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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.
Additionally, other Big Tech companies will face an uphill battle to get a foothold in the nascent market for smart glasses after Meta’s head start.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 27, 2026
Poland's Zaniewska, 34, has the perspective of a coach with a foothold at the top of the game.
From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026
“DSA has really claimed a foothold for ourselves in L.A. County politics,” Chang said.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 22, 2026
Eli Lilly is looking for its next growth engine, cutting a deal that could launch its latest bid to establish a foothold in the market for non-opioid painkillers.
From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026
It made him swim again, to get a foothold on solid ground.
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
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.
