underfoot
underfoot Lexical Profile
underfoot Game Scores & Validity
• adverb
Under the feet; on the ground or floor where one is standing or walking.
"Dry autumn leaves crunched loudly underfoot as we walked through the quiet forest."
In the way of someone who is moving or working.
"The toddler kept getting underfoot while the movers carried heavy boxes into the living room."
• adjective
Present in such a way as to obstruct progress or be in the way.
"It was difficult to prepare the holiday meal with three excited puppies constantly underfoot."
Situated or lying on the ground beneath one's feet.
"Careful hikers watch for exposed tree roots and loose underfoot rocks along the steep trail."
Word Nuance & Usage
When used as an adjective meaning 'in the way,' 'underfoot' is almost exclusively used predicatively (after a linking verb, as in 'the children were constantly underfoot') rather than directly before a noun.
• Rhymes for underfoot
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English around the 14th century from the fusion of the prepositional phrase 'under foot,' combining Old English 'under' (beneath) and 'fōt' (foot).