Meaning

(countable) The sound made by a footstep; also, the footstep or step itself..

Definitions by Sense

1. (countable) The sound made by a footstep; also, the footstep or step itself.
2. (uncountable, originally and chiefly British, Malaysia) The number of pedestrians going into or passing through a place (especially a commercial venue such as a shop) during a specified time period; also, the pedestrians in a particular place regarded collectively; foot traffic.

Example Sentences

[L]ike Hedg-hogs vvhich / Lye tumbling in my bare-foote vvay, and mount / Their pricks at my foot-fall: ſometime am I / All vvound vvith Adders, vvho vvith clouen tongues / Doe hiſſe me into madneſſe: […]

They are treading fast and thick. For weeks you could have heard a foot-fall.

At last I slid off into a light doze, and had pretty nearly made a good offing towards the land of Nod, when I heard a heavy footfall in the passage, and saw a glimmer of light come into the room from under the door.

He did not hear her approach, her footfall was so light; and it was with the same silent step she went into the room, and knelt down beside him, and put her hands and face on his knee, […]

I thought of going out for a ride, and was about to get up when I heard a footfall on the steps behind. I looked back, but there was no one. As I sat down again, thinking it to be an illusion, I heard many footfalls, as if a large number of persons were rushing down the steps.

What might have been and what has been / Point to one end, which is always present. / Footfalls echo in the memory / Down the passage which we did not take / Towards the door we never opened / Into the rose-garden.

I cannot believe that he is gone. I expect him with every footfall I hear on the GCN stairs.

However, footfall is still below pre-Covid levels while there is also a surge of incoming supply. - "Are There Too Many Retail Malls In Malaysia?", BFM 89.9

Word Forms

• footfalls
• foot-fall

Synonyms for footfall

Related Words

When Should You Use Footfall?

Use footfall when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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