afoot

[ uh-foot ]

adverb

1. on foot; walking:

   I came afoot.

2. astir; in progress:

   There is mischief afoot.

afoot

/ əˈfʊt /

adjective

1. in circulation or operation; astir

   mischief was afoot

2. on or by foot

Word History and Origins

Origin of afoot¹

First recorded in 1175–1225, afoot is from Middle English a fote, on fote. See a- ¹, foot

Example Sentences

Far removed from booming bass notes and twirling young b-boys, however, serious efforts were afoot to get other forms of dancing on sport’s biggest stage.

From Washington Post

With so much change afoot, we turned to poets, too, for words of inspiration and provocation at a time when people need a little bit of both.

From Vox

Your brain, meanwhile, is quick to interpret these hard-coded physiological responses as a sign that danger is afoot.

From Popular-Science

Changes had been afoot for some time due to the rise of less rigid programmatic advertising models and with momentum shifting away from linear TV towards streaming on demand and CTV and OTT.

From Digiday

The discrepancy thrillingly suggests that some unknown quickening agent may be afoot in the cosmos.

From Quanta Magazine

The very fact that so many troops co-existed with so many militants meant some kind of complicated alliances were afoot.

From The Daily Beast

Even the World Heath Organization, which has plenty to worry about in impoverished nations, knows there is big trouble afoot.

From The Daily Beast

Even if Putin is serious about diplomacy for the moment, there is a deeper problem afoot for Obama.

From The Daily Beast

There's a bearded, flannel-shirted movement afoot to ditch the Internet and reclaim the pre-digital life.

From The Daily Beast

The same impulse is afoot in less trendy parts of the country.

From The Daily Beast

For example, there is a vast discussion afoot upon the questions that centre upon Property, its rights and its limitations.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the temptation came upon me strong to go on to the ford and see the Mataafa villages, where we heard there was more afoot.

From Project Gutenberg

It is she whom I followed afoot, penniless and wanting bread, until I fell exhausted on the highway and racked with pain.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover then as ever when such doings were afoot was the King himself foremost among his men.

From Project Gutenberg

And the King himself and some of his men rode on horseback, but many more went afoot.

From Project Gutenberg