foothold
noun
foot·hold
ˈfu̇t-ˌhōld 
1
: a hold for the feet : footing
2
: a position usable as a base for further advance
The company secured a foothold in the market.
Examples of foothold in a Sentence
The army gained a foothold on the island.
The company has secured a foothold in the market.
Recent Examples on the Web
At the commissioner’s court meeting, area residents universally condemned the idea, variously calling it a Trojan horse, a foothold, a wasp’s nest, and a bribe.
—
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
As for why strategics are so focused on gaining a foothold in India, demographics and the country’s digital evolution are thought to be the main driving factors.
—Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
Five years later, Amex paid $400 million for Tock, the reservation and table management service, expanding its foothold in a dining category that accounted for $100 billion in spending on Amex cards in 2024 alone.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Organized by the Prine Family and their Hello in There Foundation, the concert is the latest in a series of tributes to Prine, who was born in Maywood, Illinois, before moving to Chicago to get a foothold in music.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for foothold
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
As for why strategics are so focused on gaining a foothold in India, demographics and the country’s digital evolution are thought to be the main driving factors.
—Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
Five years later, Amex paid $400 million for Tock, the reservation and table management service, expanding its foothold in a dining category that accounted for $100 billion in spending on Amex cards in 2024 alone.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Organized by the Prine Family and their Hello in There Foundation, the concert is the latest in a series of tributes to Prine, who was born in Maywood, Illinois, before moving to Chicago to get a foothold in music.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for foothold
Cite this Entry
“Foothold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foothold. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
