Word
Definition
adj. happening or being planned right now. You use it to describe a situation that is already in progress or about to start.
adj. occurring or being planned at the present time. Often used in the phrase 'in the works' or 'in the offing'.
Examples
“There are some big changes afoot at the office.”
“I heard that a new merger is afoot, but no official announcement has been made yet.”
“While the official launch date remains a secret, several industry insiders suggest that a significant restructuring is afoot to streamline the company's global operations.”
Examples
simple
“There are some big changes afoot at the office.”
contextual
“I heard that a new merger is afoot, but no official announcement has been made yet.”
complex
“While the official launch date remains a secret, several industry insiders suggest that a significant restructuring is afoot to streamline the company's global operations.”
Real-World Examples
“That three of the oldest and best-known publications—Scientific American, Popular Science and National Geographic—have all faced cutbacks in recent years surely points to something deeper afoot.” “It turns out that even stranger things are afoot: the car’s gas dial hasn’t moved, and they oddly aren’t craving any of their normal bodily needs.” Etymology
From a- + foot.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/afoot
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0