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

Their comments point to the difficulties Russia would face after any peace deal in integrating servicemen back into civilian life, and in moving the wartime economy back onto a civilian footing. —Anatoly Kurmanaev, New York Times, 17 May 2025

Lose your footing, lose the ball, and suddenly the other team is racing toward your goal with numbers. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2025

Officials in New Jersey have recovered the body of a man who fell into a creek in Westville on Wednesday afternoon after reportedly losing his footing. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 15 May 2025

Most of them focus on protecting continuity and institutional memory, maintaining operational momentum, keeping staff on a steady footing, supporting the board during the search process, managing external stakeholder perceptions and successfully onboarding a new chief executive. —Victoria Burkhart, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

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

Rhymes for footing

• inputting
• outputting

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