Meaning & use
a footboard
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
The vertical board at the foot of a bed, opposite the headboard.
Grammar: Countable: a footboard, the footboard, footboards.
Patterns
- the footboard of the bed
- a wooden footboard
The bed has a matching headboard and footboard.
She rested her feet against the footboard.
The footboard was carved from dark wood.
nouncountabletechnical
A board or platform at the foot of a vehicle or machine, used as a step or support.
Grammar: Countable: a footboard, the footboard, footboards.
Patterns
- the footboard of the carriage
- stand on the footboard
He stepped onto the footboard of the carriage.
The old train had a footboard for passengers to climb aboard.
Word forms
| plural | footboards |
|---|
Common combinations
- headboard and footboard
- The bed frame includes a headboard and footboard.
- wooden footboard
- They bought a wooden footboard to match the headboard.
- footboard of the bed
- The footboard of the bed was scratched.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bed end
- A general term for the end of a bed, but 'footboard' specifically means the board itself.
Opposites
Word family
- headboard noun
- The board at the head of a bed.
Commonly confused: a footboard or headboard? a footboard or footstool?
a footboard vs headboard
The headboard is at the top of the bed where you put your head; the footboard is at the bottom.
a footboard vs footstool
A footstool is a small stool for resting your feet; a footboard is part of a bed or vehicle.
Practice
What is a footboard?
Choose one answer.
A footboard is the board at the foot of a bed, opposite the headboard. It is not at the head of the bed.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a footboard”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.