afoot

American  

[uh-foot] / əˈfʊt /

adverb

1. on foot; walking.

   I came afoot.

2. astir; in progress.

   There is mischief afoot.

---

afoot British  

/ əˈfʊt /

adjective

1. in circulation or operation; astir

   mischief was afoot

2. on or by foot

---

Etymology

Origin of afoot

First recorded in 1175–1225, afoot is from Middle English a fote, on fote. See a- ¹, foot

Explanation

Something that's afoot is already happening, underway, or being prepared. You might reassure your fellow French club members that plans are afoot for a fund raiser to support your upcoming trip to Québec. People frequently say that plans are afoot when they've started preparing for a party, an election campaign, a job hunt, or anything else that requires some planning. Plans might be afoot for your dad's surprise party, for example, or your sister's wedding. Another, less common way to use afoot is to mean "on foot," or "walking." You could tell your teacher that you're late to school because you missed the bus and had to travel afoot.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

afoot

In Georgia Bernstein’s alluringly listless “Night Nurse,” something is afoot at a luxury retirement community.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026

While July might be too soon for a rate increase, according to Bullard, he thinks a “tightening cycle” could be afoot starting in September, meaning more than one single hike.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026

Other efforts are also afoot to boost arms-industry financing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

Heavy touches, slow afoot, playing like they had the weight of the World Cup on their shoulders.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

Now again plans were urgently afoot to fix me up, to improve my voice.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston