underfoot

American  

[uhn-der-foot] / ˌʌn dərˈfʊt /

adverb

1. under the foot or feet; on the ground; underneath or below.

   The climb was difficult because there were so many rocks underfoot.

2. so as to form an obstruction, as in walking; in the way.

   the ends of her sash falling constantly underfoot.

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adjective

1. lying under the foot or feet; in a position to be trodden upon.

underfoot British  

/ ˌʌndəˈfʊt /

adverb

1. underneath the feet; on the ground

2. in a position of subjugation or subservience

3. in the way

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Etymology

Origin of underfoot

1150–1200; Middle English underfot (adv.). See under-, foot

Example Sentences

“Gawk at a bunch of implements in the Montezuma railroad yard with all those cinders underfoot?”

From Literature

In the 1960s, American artists began turning their backs on painting and sculpture, turning to a new material of choice: the land underfoot.

From The Wall Street Journal

Robe offset the pervasive green with a wool rug from Stark that provides warmth underfoot.

From The Wall Street Journal

It shimmered in the sunlight, but underfoot my toes squished in the mud, and next to me, Maeve’s fur was matted with it.

From Literature

Here, the grapes that tangled themselves around corner-bar trellises all summer fall frozen to the sidewalk, shattering softly underfoot.

From Salon