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.
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
Working out the puzzle of Flores was key to Scotney's victory but trainer Shane McGuigan gave her the tools to succeed between rounds - urging her to use the jab and rely on footwork.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
Everything Malinin does, from the flip, to his quad jumps to even some of his tricky footwork, is an opportunity to slip.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026
Denny's hands were quick, but his footwork was slow.
From "The Contender" by Robert Lipsyte
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.
