footing

1 of 2

noun

foot·​ing ˈfu̇-tiŋ 

1

: a stable position or placing of the feet

lost his footing and fell

2

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

Be careful—the footing is slippery there.

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

put the business on a firm financial footing

6

: terms of social intercourse

neighbors on a friendly footing

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

footing

2 of 2

present participle of foot entry 2

Synonyms of footing

Noun

• basis
• foundation
• bedrock
• cornerstone

Examples of footing in a Sentence

Noun

He lost his footing and fell down the slope.

Be careful. The footing is slippery there.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

What should last is a steadier footing, marked by fewer surprise rollbacks, better financing, and more believable backlogs. — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026

But the president’s standing has fallen and Whatley, the former chairman of the state and national party, was never able to find his footing on the campaign trail. — Bill Barrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026

The fact that the show’s current iteration has finally regained its footing may make the prospect of an RHOC reboot sound appealing, but the logistics of that overhaul are harder to imagine. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026

In that moment, Hollywood was still finding its footing after the pandemic; the premiere offered something audiences were missing. — Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

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

• 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