footing

noun

foot·​ing ˈfu̇-tiŋ 

1

: a stable position or placing of the feet

2

: a surface or its condition with respect to one walking or running on it

especially : the condition of a racetrack

3

: the act of moving on foot : step, tread

4

a

: a place or position providing a base of operations : foothold

b

: established position : status

especially : position or rank in relation to others

they all started off on an equal footing

5

: basis

6

: terms of social intercourse

7

: an enlargement at the lower end of a foundation wall, pier, or column to distribute the load

8

: the sum of a column of figures

Synonyms

• base
• basis
• bedrock
• bottom
• cornerstone
• foundation
• ground
• groundwork
• keystone
• root
• underpinning
• warp
• warp and woof

Examples of footing in a Sentence

He lost his footing and fell down the slope.

Be careful. The footing is slippery there.

Recent Examples on the Web

As Ukraine was forced to shift to defense, the Russian arsenal has been bolstered by the delivery of missiles and drones from Iran and North Korea, while support from China has helped Moscow mitigate the impact of sanctions, helping the Kremlin to convert its economy to a wartime footing. —Marc Santora, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2024

Competing with Michigan and Ohio State would be tough enough on equal fiscal footing. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024

Latin artists should compete on equal footing — as, for example, Gustavo Dudamel, the conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has successfully done in the Grammy awards. —Leila Cobo, Billboard, 17 Apr. 2024

Audiences get to know these characters and setting on equal footing regardless of prior knowledge and can be equally surprised by what’s revealed on their journey. —Richard Newby, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024

Magic and Larry resurrected the league and put it on sound footing, and when Michael Jordan came into the NBA in 1984 the league took the next step. —Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024

Matters only grew worse as Haiti struggled to regain its footing after the earthquakes, and as elections were repeatedly postponed following Moïse’s assassination in 2021. —Char Adams, NBC News, 28 Mar. 2024

The final book will follow protagonist Keera, who is finding her footing after learning a secret about an ally. —Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

Green will be a handful for Golden State, which has meanwhile found its defensive footing. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing footing

• on an equal footing
• on firm ground/footing
• war footing

Kids Definition

footing

noun

foot·​ing ˈfu̇t-iŋ 

1

a

: the placing of one's feet in a position to secure a firm or safe stand

b

: a place for the foot to rest securely

2

a

: a place or position providing a base of operations : foothold sense 2

b

: position with respect to one another : status

all started off on an equal footing

c

: basis

put the business on a firm footing