foot

noun \ ˈfu̇t \

Updated on: 9 Dec 2017

Definition of foot

plural feet play \ˈfēt\ also foot

1 : the terminal part of the vertebrate (see ¹vertebrate) leg upon which an individual stands

2 : an invertebrate organ of locomotion or attachment; especially : a ventral (see ¹ventral 1b) muscular surface or process of a mollusk

3 : any of various units of length based on the length of the human foot; especially : a unit equal to ¹/₃ yard and comprising 12 inches —plural foot used between a number and a noun

a 10-foot pole

—plural feet or foot used between a number and an adjective

6 feet tall

— see Weights and Measures Table

4 : the basic unit of verse meter consisting of any of various fixed combinations or groups of stressed and unstressed or long and short syllables

Each line of the poem contains five feet.

5 a : motion or power of walking or running : step

fleet of foot

b : speed, swiftness

showed early foot

6 : something resembling a foot in position or use: such as

a : the lower end of the leg of a chair or table

b (1) : the basal portion of the sporophyte in mosses

(2) : a specialized outgrowth by which the embryonic sporophyte especially of many bryophytes absorbs nourishment from the gametophyte

c : a piece on a sewing machine that presses the cloth against the feed

7 foot plural, chiefly British : infantry

8 : the lower edge (as of a sail)

9 : the lowest part : bottom

the foot of the hill

10 a : the end that is lower or opposite the head

the foot of the bed

b : the part (as of a stocking) that covers the foot

11 foots plural in form but singular or plural in construction : material deposited especially in aging or refining : dregs

12 foots plural : footlights

— at one's feet

: under one's spell or influence

The champion loved the feeling that the world was at his feet.

— foot in the door

: the initial step toward a goal

He took a job as a secretary to get his foot in the door.

— off one's feet

: in a sitting or lying position

The doctor advised her to stay off her feet.

— on foot

: by walking or running

tour the campus on foot

— on one's feet

1 : in a standing position

He works on his feet all day.

2 : in an established position or state

The business is finally back on its feet.

3 : in a recovered condition (as from illness)

back on my feet

4 : in an extemporaneous (see extemporaneous 1a) manner : while in action

good debaters can think on their feet

— to one's feet

: to a standing position

brought the crowd to its feet

See foot defined for English-language learners

See foot defined for kids

Examples of foot in a Sentence

He was wearing boots on his feet.
tracks made by the feet of a bird
The people in the crowd began to stamp their feet.
They camped at the foot of the mountain.
at the foot of the stairs
the foot of the table

Recent Examples of foot from the Web

The seven-time NASCAR champion has earned his racing legacy by building big leads and then slamming his foot down on the gas.

— peter dawson, star-telegram, "Jimmie Johnson embracing playoff challenges heading into AAA Texas 500," 3 Nov. 2017
William: My feet — sports has done a number on them.

— david perloff, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "Blind date: Beauty and the feast," 1 Nov. 2017
Winston is not stepping into throws, and his not transferring his weight normally to his front foot on his follow through is a mechanism of his original AC joint sprain suffered two weeks ago.

— profootballdoc, sandiegouniontribune.com, "UPDATE: Jameis Winston showing signs of rotator cuff injury," 29 Oct. 2017
Modern-day settings, like the delta plain that crunched beneath our feet, give us useful ways to understand the processes that control how the remnants of life enter the rock record, that ledger of past worlds.

— nick pyenson, Smithsonian, "There Are Possibly Only 30 of These Rare Porposies Left on the Planet," 26 Oct. 2017
Despite Randall and Beth’s efforts to make Deja feel at home, Kevin drops in for a visit and ends up sweeping Deja off her feet on his first try.

— candice frederick, Harper's BAZAAR, "This Is Us Season 2 Episode 5 Tackles Insecurities and Unspoken Truths," 25 Oct. 2017
The most cynical view is that the Northern League pushed the referendums merely to raise its profile ahead of a general election due early next year, and that the party leadership may drag its feet in its pursuit of autonomy.

— The Economist, "Autonomous movementNorthern Italy votes for more autonomy," 24 Oct. 2017
If Tyrell Clay wasn’t slicing up the Rice defense with darting runs, Dalton Sturm was making big plays with his feet and his arm.

— john whisler, San Antonio Express-News, "Davenport-led defense helped UTSA get back on winning track," 22 Oct. 2017
And sometimes, tasks like putting my feet on the floor or turning on the bedroom lights are seemingly impossible.

— the mighty, Teen Vogue, "I'm a Student and This Is How I Know Mental Health Stigma Is Real," 21 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'foot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of foot

Middle English fot, from Old English fōt; akin to Old High German fuot foot, Latin ped-, pes, Greek pod-, pous

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

foot Synonyms

Synonyms

base, basement, bottom, nadir, rock bottom

Antonyms

head, top, vertex

Related Words

basis, bed, bedrock, foundation, ground, groundwork, keystone, seat, underpinning

Near Antonyms

acme, apex, climax, crest, culmination, height, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tip, tip-top, zenith

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

foot

verb

Definition of foot

intransitive verb

1 : dance

2 : to go on foot

3 of a sailboat : to make speed : move

transitive verb

1 a : to perform the movements of (a dance)

b : to walk, run, or dance on, over, or through

2 archaic

a : kick

b : reject

3 archaic : establish

4 a : to add up

b : to pay or stand credit for

foot the bill

5 : to make or renew the foot of

foot a stocking

See foot defined for English-language learners

Examples of foot in a Sentence

I'll foot the bill for dinner.

Recent Examples of foot from the Web

Flake's own two-year Mormon mission at age nineteen to South Africa (each family foots the bill for each child; Flake learned Afrikaans) launched his interest in foreign relations and led eventually to a career in politics.

— mike sager, Esquire, "The Fate of Arizona Is on This Man," 17 Oct. 2012
The chairmen of House and Senate committees with partial jurisdiction over health-care policy big-footed their way into the conversation with a competing proposal that sure sounds like what Trump has been promoting.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "New GOP Obamacare ‘Fix’ Alternative Is Really Just a Poison Pill," 24 Oct. 2017
But Altuve collected five hits in eight at-bats in those games, scoring two of the Astros’ four runs, stealing a base to set up one of those runs and generally playing with the kind of energy that made the Yankees appear somewhat flat-footed.

— wallace matthews, New York Times, "Aaron Judge and Jose Altuve, Hot or Cold, Set the Pace in the A.L.C.S.," 19 Oct. 2017
Well, legislators in high-tax states, for one, who fear little consequence from the residents of low-tax states who end up footing the bill for their fiscal recklessness.

— david l. bahnsen, National Review, "A Fairer Tax Code Is a More Efficient Tax Code," 17 Oct. 2017
Acceleration is quite adequate, but an urgent request for power can feel flat-footed.

— mark maynard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "2018 Hyundai Elantra GT: Subtle slyness," 6 Oct. 2017
Big toy retailers, the usual arbiters of what sells, were initially caught flat-footed.

— The Economist, "Fidget revolutionThe lessons of fidget spinners," 6 Sep. 2017
The mailings, all sent in a two-week period, cost $62,000, and taxpayers foot the bill, according to data obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request.

— sophia bollag, The Seattle Times, "AP Exclusive: California taxpayers fund legislative mailings," 30 Aug. 2017
Single-handedly footing the $20-million bill, the Reynolds Foundation donated $10 million in additional funds to cover the cost of taking the Lansdowne on a crosscountry road trip while the museum was being upgraded.

— ryan p. smith, Smithsonian, "The Fused History of Two of Washington, D.C.’s Beloved Museums," 22 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of foot

see ¹foot

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

foot Synonyms

Synonyms

ante up, balance, clear, discharge, pay, liquidate, meet, pay off, pay up, pony up, quit, recompense, settle, spring (for), stand

Antonyms

repudiate

FOOT Defined for English Language Learners

foot

noun

Definition of foot for English Language Learners

: the part of the leg on which an animal or person stands and moves : the part of the leg below the ankle
: a unit of measurement equal to 1/3 yard (0.3048 meter) or 12 inches
: the lowest part of something

FOOT Defined for Kids

foot

noun \ ˈfu̇t \

Definition of foot for Students

plural feet \ˈfēt\

1 : the end part of the leg of an animal or person : the part of an animal on which it stands or moves

2 : a unit of length equal to twelve inches (about .3 meter)

3 : the lowest or end part of something

foot of a hill

foot of the bed

— on foot

: by walking

They traveled on foot.

foot

verb

Definition of foot for Students

footed; footing

1 : ¹walk 1

2 : ¹pay 2

I'll foot the bill.

Medical Dictionary

foot

noun \ ˈfu̇t \

medical Definition of foot

plural feet play \ˈfēt\ also foot

1 : the terminal part of the vertebrate leg upon which an individual stands

2 : any of various units of length based on the length of the human foot; especially : a unit equal to ¹/₃ yard or 12 inches or 30.48 centimeters —plural foot used between a number and a noun