footwork

American  

[foot-wurk] / ˈfʊtˌwɜrk /

noun

1. the use of the feet, as in tennis, boxing, or dancing.

2. travel by foot from one place to another, as in gathering facts or fulfilling an assignment; legwork.

   The project entailed a great deal of footwork.

3. the act or process of maneuvering, especially in a skillful manner.

   It took a bit of fancy footwork to avoid the issue.

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footwork British  

/ ˈfʊtˌwɜːk /

noun

1. skilful use of the feet, as in sports, dancing, etc

2. informal clever manoeuvring

   deft political footwork

3. informal preliminary groundwork

   many estate agents now do the footwork – you only need to visit

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Etymology

Origin of footwork

First recorded in 1560–70; foot + work

Example Sentences

With that in mind, Mendoza has been working independently with former NFL quarterback Brian Griese, and the two haven’t just been going over footwork.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Close observers say Rew's keeping is competent, rather than spectacular, possibly hampered by some heavy footwork.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

His footwork is precise, his shooting touch soft and his overall game has been improving with his maturity.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Samson's batting is built on precise footwork, balance at the crease and timing.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

We would spend a lot of time working on our technique, practicing a series of footwork or a particular move over and over again, so at game time, we would instinctively be able to execute.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Related Words

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