Definition of afoot in US English:

adjective

• 1In preparation or progress; happening or beginning to happen.

  ‘plans are afoot for a festival’

  ‘something bizarre was afoot’

  More example sentences

  • ‘There are also plans afoot to float television channels in other South Indian languages over the course of the year.’
  • ‘Out the back is a space for all kinds of creative outlets like painting and pottery and plans are afoot for a veggie garden.’
  • ‘But plans are already afoot to ensure that the festival is revitalised next year.’
  • ‘Plans are afoot for a visual art research institute in currently vacant university buildings.’
  • ‘There is even a plan afoot to offer half-year membership for half subs, in a membership drive to be held in the ground later this month.’
  • ‘At the present time, plans are afoot to develop the harbour area.’
  • ‘The Christmas lights have just been erected and already plans are afoot to have an even better display next year.’
  • ‘And talk is afoot of a large scale class action discrimination suit to be filed against the university.’
  • ‘Plans are afoot for a complete refurbishment of the building, and in the meantime Michael is developing the food side of the business.’
  • ‘There are plans afoot… but it would be premature to talk about them now.’
  • ‘Plans are also afoot to introduce a new green bin scheme, which collects compostable waste, including cardboard.’
  • ‘The sites became redundant following a reorganisation of special education, and plans are afoot to sell them for housing.’
  • ‘Plans are afoot for an official celebration of the win, and the mayor said that they are already planning for next year.’
  • ‘Plans are afoot to construct one more platform to station more buses.’
  • ‘Plans are afoot to stage three soul nights over the next year.’
  • ‘The other good news is that there are plans afoot for there to be a free festival next year!’
  • ‘Plans are afoot to run an indoor football league over two days.’
  • ‘Plans are now afoot for a small screen adaptation of the much-loved novel.’
  • ‘Preparations are afoot, measurements are made, ground is staked out.’
  • ‘Plans are afoot for the construction of dressing rooms and toilets.’

  Synonyms

  going on, happening, around, about, abroad, circulating, current, stirring, in circulation, at large, going about, in the air, in the wind

  going on, happening, around, about, abroad, circulating, current, stirring, in circulation, at large, going about, in the air, in the wind

  View synonyms

• 2North American On foot.

  ‘they were forced to go afoot’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Although they went afoot they expected to come back mounted for when they raided another tribe they depended on stealing enough horses to get away on.’
  • ‘But to the younger generation, a winter holiday means action- and down through the 'Swamp hollow' and over the hill road they go, afoot or in sleighs, through the drifting snow, to a barn dance at the Centre.’
  • ‘I suppose from the looks of things that I shall have to go afoot the rest of the way.’
  • ‘He went afoot, both that he might arrange many matters, and by way of training them to bear a parting from him.’
  • ‘She went afoot all the way to our house. I founded her sleeping on the grass in the morning.’