footwork

noun

foot·​work ˈfu̇t-ˌwərk How to pronounce footwork (audio)
1
: the activity of moving from place to place
the investigation entailed a lot of footwork
2
: the management of the feet (as in boxing)
also : the work done with them
3
: active and adroit maneuvering to achieve an end
fancy political footwork

Examples of footwork in a Sentence

The investigation required a lot of footwork. He used quick footwork to dodge his opponent. The tango involves some fancy footwork. He knows that getting enough votes for the proposal is going to require some fancy political footwork.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Gauff drilled her footwork, working to optimize her explosive speed for a slippery surface on which hard stops and aggressive sprinting can often backfire. — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 As fencing students began to leave or do cooldown stretches, Sullivan continued to practice her footwork and precision with her foil by a target bag. — Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026 Balogun’s fancy footwork broke a scoreless deadlock 45 minutes into the action, booting a left-footed shot through the goalie’s outstretched legs. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 2 July 2026 These comparisons can undercut the profile of the 6-foot-10 power forward, whose footwork, decision-making and touch should make up for any lack of size or bounce. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for footwork

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of footwork was in 1859

Rhymes for footwork

See All Rhymes for footwork

Browse Nearby Words

footwell
footwork
footy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Footwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footwork. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

footwork

noun
foot·​work -ˌwərk How to pronounce footwork (audio)
: the movement of the feet (as in boxing)

More from Merriam-Webster on footwork

Nglish: Translation of footwork for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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