footfall

[ foot-fawl ]

noun

1. a footstep.
2. the sound of footsteps:

   She heard a footfall on the stairs.

footfall

/ ˈfʊtˌfɔːl /

noun

1. the sound of a footstep

Word History and Origins

Origin of footfall¹

First recorded in 1600–10; foot + fall

Example Sentences

Selina said hotels, bars and restaurants all really benefit from the huge uplift in footfall and said the four-day festival is a massive boost to the local economy.

From BBC

However, some restaurants told the ONS the tournament had a negative impact on footfall.

From BBC

Mr Lewis said the lack of footfall during the evening means the cannabis farms can go undetected.

From BBC

"From Pret's perspective, this subscription increased footfall and the chance of higher spending because people come for the coffee and pick up breakfast or a sandwich en route to the counter," she said.

From BBC

Their application had initially been turned down, over concerns that "increased footfall" at the site might cause environmental damage.

From BBC

Related Words

• stride