Word
Definition
n. the way you move your feet when you are doing an activity like dancing or sports. Good footwork helps you stay balanced and move quickly.
n. the manner in which a person moves or uses their feet in activities such as sports, dance, or combat. Often used metaphorically to describe skillful maneuvering in social or political situations.
Examples
“The boxer has excellent footwork and moves around the ring easily.”
“The coach spent the entire practice session focusing on footwork to improve the players' agility on the court.”
“While the dancer's upper body remained perfectly still, her intricate footwork demonstrated a level of technical mastery that few in the audience had ever witnessed.”
Examples
simple
“The boxer has excellent footwork and moves around the ring easily.”
contextual
“The coach spent the entire practice session focusing on footwork to improve the players' agility on the court.”
complex
“While the dancer's upper body remained perfectly still, her intricate footwork demonstrated a level of technical mastery that few in the audience had ever witnessed.”
Usage
Typically used as an uncountable noun to describe a skill or technique.
Real-World Examples
“With the footwork, speed and sharp pressure fighting that defined her career, Taylor produced one final stylish performance against the overmatched Frenchwoman to win by scores of 100-90, 100-90 and 98-91.” “He averaged 4.7 dribble attempts per 90 minutes in that competition and caught the eye with his energetic displays and tidy footwork.” Etymology
From foot + work.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/footwork
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0