underfoot

UK: /ˌʌndə^rˈfʊt/ US: /ˌʌndɚˈfʊt/ ,(un′dər fŏŏt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

un•der•foot /ˌʌndɚˈfʊt/   adv. 

1. under the foot or feet:
   felt the thorns underfoot.
2. in the way:
   That dog is always getting underfoot.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

un•der•foot  (un′dər fŏŏt′), adv. 

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.

adj. 

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

• Middle English underfot (adverb, adverbial). See under-, foot 1150–1200

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

underfoot / ˌʌndəˈfʊt/ adverb

1. underneath the feet; on the ground
2. in a position of subjugation or subservience
3. in the way

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

foot /fʊt/   n., pl. feet /fit/.  

1. Zoology [countable] the end of the leg, below the ankle joint, on which the body stands and moves.
2. Weights and Measures [countable] a unit of length equal to 12 inches or 30.48 centimeters.
3. any part or thing resembling a foot, as in function, placement, or shape:
   [countable] the foot of a couch; the foot of a stocking.
4. the lowest part, or bottom, such as of a hill, ladder, or page:
   [countable* usually singular] the foot of the mountain.
5. the part of anything opposite the top or head:
   [countable* usually singular] Her cat slept at the foot of her bed.

v. [~ + object]

6. to pay or settle:
   Who will foot the bill?

adj. [before a noun]

7. moving on foot:
   a foot soldier.
8. operating by using the foot or feet:
   a foot brake.

Idioms

9. drag one's feet, to delay unnecessarily.
10. Idioms foot it, [~ + it] to walk;
    go on foot:
    We'll have to foot it home.
11. Idioms get off on the right (or wrong ) foot, to begin well (or badly):
    I got off on the wrong foot by arriving late.
12. Idioms on foot, by walking or running:
    to travel on foot.
13. on one's feet:
    • standing:
      The crowd was on their feet cheering.
    • in a good, healthy, or advantageous position:
      Glad you're on your feet again after your illness.
14. Idioms put one's foot down, [no object] to take a firm stand:
    She put her foot down and didn't allow the children to watch television.
15. Idioms put one's foot in one's mouth or put one's foot in it, [no obj] to say something tactless.
16. Idioms set foot on or in, [~ + object] to enter:
    Don't set foot in this office again!
17. Idioms under foot, in the way:
    That cat is always under foot.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

foot  (fŏŏt), n., pl. feet for 1–4, 8–11, 16, 19, 21;
foots for 20;
v. 
n. 

1. Zoology (in vertebrates) the terminal part of the leg, below the ankle joint, on which the body stands and moves.
2. Zoology (in invertebrates) any part similar in position or function.
3. Zoology such a part considered as the organ of locomotion.
4. Weights and Measures a unit of length, originally derived from the length of the human foot. It is divided into 12 inches and equal to 30.48 centimeters. Abbr.: ft., f.
5. Military foot soldiers;
   infantry.
6. walking or running motion;
   pace:
   swift of foot.
7. quality or character of movement or motion;
   tread;
   step.
8. any part or thing resembling a foot, as in function, placement, shape, etc.
9. Furniture
   • Furniture a shaped or ornamented feature terminating a leg at its lower part.
   • Furniture any of several short legs supporting a central shaft, as of a pedestal table.
10. a rim, flange, or flaring part, often distinctively treated, serving as a base for a table furnishing or utensil, as a glass, teapot, or candlestick.
11. Clothing the part of a stocking, sock, etc., covering the foot.
12. the lowest part, or bottom, of anything, as of a hill, ladder, page, etc.
13. a supporting part;
    base.
14. the part of anything opposite the top or head:
    He waited patiently at the foot of the checkout line.
15. the end of a bed, grave, etc., toward which the feet are placed:
    Put the blanket at the foot of the bed, please.
16. Printing the part of the type body that forms the sides of the groove, at the base. See diag. under type. 
17. the last, as of a series.
18. that which is written at the bottom, as the total of an account.
19. [Pros.] a group of syllables constituting a metrical unit of a verse.
20. Usually, foots. 
    • sediment or dregs.
    • footlights.
21. Nautical, Naval Terms the lower edge of a sail.
22. Idioms get off on the right or wrong foot, to begin favorably or unfavorably:
    He got off on the wrong foot with a tactless remark about his audience.
23. Idioms get or have a or one's foot in the door, to succeed in achieving an initial stage or step.
24. have one foot in the grave. See grave ¹ (def. 5).
25. Idioms on foot, by walking or running, rather than by riding.
26. Idioms put one's best foot forward:
    • to attempt to make as good an impression as possible.
    • to proceed with all possible haste;
      hurry.
27. Idioms put one's foot down, to take a firm stand;
    be decisive or determined.
28. Idioms, Informal Terms put one's foot in it or into it, [Informal.] to make an embarrassing blunder. Also, put one's foot in or into one's mouth. 
29. Idioms set foot on or in, to go on or into;
    enter:
    Don't set foot in this office again!
30. Idioms under foot, in the way:
    That cat is always under foot when I'm getting dinner.

v.i. 

31. to walk;
    go on foot (often fol. by it):
    We'll have to foot it.
32. to move the feet rhythmically, as to music or in dance (often fol. by it).
33. Naval Terms (of vessels) to move forward;
    sail:
    to foot briskly across the open water.

v.t. 

34. to walk or dance on:
    footing the cobblestones of the old city.
35. Music and Dance to perform (a dance):
    cavaliers footing a galliard.
36. to traverse on or as if on foot.
37. to make or attach a foot to:
    to foot a stocking.
38. to pay or settle:
    I always end up footing the bill.
39. Accounting to add (a column of figures) and set the sum at the foot (often fol. by up).
40. to seize with talons, as a hawk.
41. to establish.
42. [Archaic.] to kick, esp. to kick away.
43. [Obs.] to set foot on.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English fōt; cognate with German Fuss; akin to Latin pēs (stem ped-), Greek poús (stem pod-)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

foot / fʊt/ noun ( feet / fiːt/)

1. the part of the vertebrate leg below the ankle joint that is in contact with the ground during standing and walking
   Related adjective(s): pedal
2. the part of a garment that covers a foot
3. any of various organs of locomotion or attachment in invertebrates, including molluscs
4. the lower part of some plant structures, as of a developing moss sporophyte embedded in the parental tissue
5. a unit of length equal to one third of a yard or 12 inches. 1 Imperial foot is equivalent to 0.3048 metre
   Abbreviation: ft
6. any part resembling a foot in form or function: the foot of a chair
7. the lower part of something; base; bottom: the foot of the page, the foot of a hill
8. the end of a series or group: the foot of the list
9. manner of walking or moving; tread; step: a heavy foot
10. infantry, esp in the British army
11. (as modifier): a foot soldier
12. any of various attachments on a sewing machine that hold the fabric in position, such as a presser foot for ordinary sewing and a zipper foot
13. a group of two or more syllables in which one syllable has the major stress, forming the basic unit of poetic rhythm
14. a foot in the door ⇒ an action, appointment, etc, that provides an initial step towards a desired goal, esp one that is not easily attainable
15. my foot! ⇒ an expression of disbelief, often of the speaker's own preceding statement: he didn't know, my foot! Of course he did!
16. of foot ⇒ in manner of movement: fleet of foot
17. on foot ⇒ walking or running
18. in progress; astir; afoot
19. put a foot wrong ⇒ to make a mistake
20. put one's best foot forward ⇒ to try to do one's best
21. to hurry
22. put one's foot down ⇒ to act firmly
23. put one's foot in it ⇒ to blunder
24. under foot ⇒ on the ground; beneath one's feet

verb

1. to dance to music (esp in the phrase foot it)
2. (transitive) to walk over or set foot on; traverse (esp in the phrase foot it)
3. (transitive) to pay the entire cost of (esp in the phrase foot the bill)

See also feetEtymology: Old English fōt; related to Old Norse fōtr, Gothic fōtus, Old High German fuoz, Latin pēs, Greek pous, Sanskrit pad

ˈfootless adjective

USAGE
In front of another noun, the plural for the unit of length is foot: a 20-foot putt; his 70-foot ketch. Foot can also be used instead of feet when mentioning a quantity and in front of words like tall: four foot of snow; he is at least six foot tall