footwork
Americannoun
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the use of the feet, as in tennis, boxing, or dancing.
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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.
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the act or process of maneuvering, especially in a skillful manner.
It took a bit of fancy footwork to avoid the issue.
noun
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skilful use of the feet, as in sports, dancing, etc
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informal clever manoeuvring
deft political footwork
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informal preliminary groundwork
many estate agents now do the footwork – you only need to visit
Etymology
Origin of footwork
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.
At 5-foot-4, the Darien, Conn., native isn’t physically imposing, but her quickness, vision and footwork make her a perpetual threat.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
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
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
His flick on to Jones for his first score against England, this his impromptu burst down the short side, his footwork and his chip ahead for the Ben White try.
From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026
Join hands and make a giant, spinning circle where people show off their footwork.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
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.
