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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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of underfoot

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

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.

Underfoot, the rubber flooring is torn and strewn with trash.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Underfoot, a Roman-style black-and-white mosaic features a dove, a lion and a serpent—the house’s spirit guardian.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

"They would spend weeks and weeks traveling in their wagons on the plains," said Abbott, whose book "Geology Underfoot Along Colorado's Front Range" is a primer for the state's rockhounds.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2024

Underfoot, beneath a plexiglass floor in the Prada showroom revamped for the new season, a man-made stream murmured over rocks and rustled leaves.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 14, 2024

Underfoot is a mattress of needles deposited for over two thousand years.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

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