Instep

Pronunciation: /ˈɪnstɛp/

Definitions of instep

noun the arched middle part of the foot between the toes and the ankle

Example Sentences

A1 She felt a sharp pain in her instep after running in new shoes.

A2 The soccer player twisted his ankle and injured his instep during the match.

B1 It is important to stretch your instep muscles before starting a dance class.

B2 The ballet dancer pointed her toes to show off her flexible instep.

C1 The podiatrist recommended custom orthotics to support her high arches and instep.

C2 The marathon runner wore specialized socks to prevent blisters on her instep during the race.

Examples of instep in a Sentence

formal The dancer pointed her toes and arched her instep gracefully.

informal I stubbed my instep on the coffee table, it hurts!

slang I can't believe he had the nerve to step on my instep like that.

figurative She had to think on her instep and make a quick decision.

Grammatical Forms of instep

• past tense: instepped
• plural: insteps
• comparative: more instep
• superlative: most instep
• present tense: insteps
• future tense: will instep
• perfect tense: have insteped
• continuous tense: is instepping
• singular: instep
• positive degree: instep
• infinitive: to instep
• gerund: instepping
• participle: insteped

Origin and Evolution of instep

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'instep' originated from Middle English, derived from the Old English word 'insteppa' which means 'the part of the foot between the ankle and the toes'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'instep' has retained its original meaning of the arch of the foot, but it is now also commonly used in sports and fitness contexts to refer to the top part of the foot where it meets the shin.