# afoot

/əˈfʊt/ (US) · /ɐfˈʊt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/afoot
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

happening or being planned right now. You use it to describe a situation that is already in progress or about to start.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.