Standard Lemma guide

foothold

noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈfʊthoʊld/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: F UH1 T HH OW2 L D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A solid grip with the feet.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: climbing, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: footing

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A secure position from which it is difficult to be dislodged.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: footing

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Airhead, beachhead, bridgehead, lodgement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

an initial accomplishment that opens the way for further developments

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the town became a beachhead in the campaign to ban smoking outdoors
  • they are presently attempting to gain a foothold in the Russian market

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: beachhead

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: accomplishment, achievement

5

noun

Meaning 5

a place providing support for the foot in standing or climbing

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: footing

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: support

Narrower terms: toehold

6

noun

Meaning 6

an area in hostile territory that has been captured and is held awaiting further troops and supplies

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • an attempt to secure a bridgehead behind enemy lines
  • the only foothold left for British troops in Europe was Gibraltar

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bridgehead

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: combat zone, combat area

Narrower terms: airhead, beachhead

History

Etymology

From foot + hold.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: опора (opora) — a solid grip with the feet
  • Danish: fodfæste — a solid grip with the feet
  • Finnish: jalansija — a solid grip with the feet
  • French: point d'appui — a solid grip with the feet
  • German: Halt — a solid grip with the feet
  • German: fester Stand — a solid grip with the feet
  • Greek: βάση (vási) — a solid grip with the feet
  • Irish: lán coise — a solid grip with the feet
  • Macedonian: ста́пка (stápka) — a solid grip with the feet
  • Macedonian: по́тпора (pótpora) — a solid grip with the feet
  • Norwegian Bokmål: fotfeste — a solid grip with the feet
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: fotfeste — a solid grip with the feet
  • Portuguese: apoio para os pés — a solid grip with the feet
  • Russian: опо́ра для ноги́ (opóra dlja nogí) — a solid grip with the feet
  • Spanish: punto de apoyo — a solid grip with the feet
  • Spanish: apoyatura podal — a solid grip with the feet
  • Swedish: fotfäste — a solid grip with the feet
  • Esperanto: piedtenejo — (by extension) a secure position
  • Finnish: jalansija — (by extension) a secure position
  • Bulgarian: плацдарм (placdarm) — beachhead, bridgehead, lodgement
  • Bulgarian: предмостие (predmostie) — beachhead, bridgehead, lodgement
  • Finnish: jalansija — beachhead, bridgehead, lodgement
  • Finnish: sillanpää — beachhead, bridgehead, lodgement
  • Greek: βάση (vási) — beachhead, bridgehead, lodgement
  • Macedonian: мо́стобран (móstobran) — beachhead, bridgehead, lodgement
  • Russian: плацда́рм (placdárm) — beachhead, bridgehead, lodgement
  • Russian: опо́рный пункт (opórnyj punkt) — beachhead, bridgehead, lodgement