instep

/ˈɪnstep/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪnstep/ (ame, ipa)

instep — noun

  • instepsingular
  • instepsplural

1. the curved area on top of your foot, between your toes and your ankle; also the

1.名詞B1
釋義

the curved area on top of your foot, between your toes and your ankle; also the matching part of a boot or a sock that lies over this spot.

例句

Keiko's running shoes were too tight across the instep, so she exchanged them for a wider pair.

collocation: across the instep

The nurse pressed gently on Rosa's instep to check for signs of swelling.

同義詞
  • arch of the foot

    Often used for the instep in everyday speech, though strictly the arch is the underneath curve and the instep is the top surface.

  • top of the foot

    A plain-language alternative, less precise for the curved middle section.

  • dorsum of the foot

    Medical term; very formal and rarely used outside clinical contexts.

反義詞
  • sole of the foot

    The bottom, flat part of the foot that contacts the ground.

  • heel

    The back part of the foot, opposite the instep.

文法句型

the instep

someone's instep

用法筆記

Frequently used in contexts about footwear fit: if shoes feel tight 'across the instep', the top section is pressing on the curved upper part of the foot. In medical settings the terms 'instep' and 'dorsum of the foot' are interchangeable.

常見錯誤

❌I hurt my instep foot.
✅I hurt my instep.
💡Instep already names the specific part; adding 'foot' is redundant.
❌The arch of the foot is on top.
✅The arch of the foot is underneath; the instep is the top curved surface.
💡Learners often confuse the instep (top) with the arch (bottom curve).