# underfoot

/ˌəndɝˈfʊt/ (US) · /ˌʌndəfˈʊt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/underfoot
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Definition

on the ground below your feet, where you walk. You use it when something is lying in the way on the floor.

For teachers: situated or occurring beneath the feet; lying on the ground where people walk. Often implies being in the way or likely to be stepped on.

## Examples

- Toys lie underfoot all over the living room.
- The kids leave their shoes underfoot in the hallway, so I keep tripping on the way to the kitchen.
- Autumn leaves lay thick underfoot in the park, muffling our steps as we walked beneath the bare branches in the cold afternoon light.

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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.