Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Currently in progress; happening or being planned: Used to describe an event, activity, or situation that is actively occurring or being developed.
   • On foot; walking: Describes the state of traveling by walking. (Note: This adjectival sense is less common and often overlaps with the adverb.)

2. Adverb:

   • On foot; by walking: Describes the manner of movement, indicating that someone is traveling using their feet rather than a vehicle or animal.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • There is mischief afoot in the office. (Some secret or troublesome activity is happening.)
  • Big changes are afoot at the company headquarters. (Major changes are being planned or are in progress.)

• Adverb:

  • We decided to explore the old town afoot. (We decided to explore by walking.)
  • The soldiers advanced afoot across the field. (The soldiers advanced on foot.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be early afoot": An idiom meaning to be up and active early in the morning.

  • The farmers are early afoot to tend to their fields. (The farmers are up and working very early.)

• "to set a plan afoot": To initiate or set a plan in motion.

  • The committee has set a new initiative afoot. (The committee has started a new initiative.)

Variants and Related Words

• Underway (adj): Similar to the "in progress" sense of .
  • The meeting is already underway. (The meeting has already started.)

Synonyms

• In progress (for the adjective): Ongoing, happening, brewing.
• On foot (for the adverb): Walking, by foot.

Related Phrases

• Go afoot: To travel by walking.
  • The path was too narrow for cars, so we had to go afoot. (We had to travel on foot.)

Related Idioms

• Something is afoot: This common idiom signals that something (often secretive or significant) is happening or being planned.
  • With all these closed-door meetings, something is definitely afoot. (The secret meetings indicate that plans are being made.)

Adjective

1. currently in progress
   • there is mischief afoot
   • plans are afoot
   • preparations for the trial are underway
2. traveling by foot
   • she was afoot when I saw her this morning

Adverb

1. on foot; walking
   • they went to the village afoot
   • quail are hunted either afoot or on horseback