footing

[ foot-ing ]

/ ˈfʊt ɪŋ /

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See synonyms for footing on Thesaurus.com

noun

the basis or foundation on which anything is established.

the act of one who moves on foot, as in walking or dancing.

a secure and established position.

a place or support for the feet; surface to stand on; foothold.

a firm placing of the feet; stability: He regained his footing.

Building Trades, Civil Engineering. the part of a foundation bearing directly upon the earth.

position or status assigned to a person, group, etc., in estimation or treatment.

mutual standing; reciprocal relation: to be on a friendly footing with someone.

entrance into a new position or relationship: to gain a footing in society.

a fee demanded from a person upon entrance into a trade, society, etc.

the act of adding a foot to something, as to a stocking.

that which is added as a foot.

the act of adding up a column of figures.

the total of such a column.

QUIZ

TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of footing

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at foot, -ing¹

Words nearby footing

Foot Guards, foothill, foothold, footie, foot in both camps, have a, footing, footing piece, foot-in-mouth, foot-in-mouth disease, foot in one's mouth, put one's, foot in the door, get one's

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use footing in a sentence

Eric Fisher had inside leverage Drove Harrison up the field and his lost his footing.
Referee already had a history with the Chiefs. The Super Bowl was the latest chapter.|Matt Bonesteel|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
While Green acknowledges the extra gear he could stand to provide, head coach Steve Kerr believes the three-time champion is exactly where he needs to be as these new-look Warriors find their footing.
Draymond Green Isn’t Scoring, But He’s Doing Everything Else For The Warriors|James L. Jackson|February 4, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Mortgage rates were flat this week as the economic recovery struggles to gain solid footing.
Uncertainty surrounding economy holds mortgage rates in place|Kathy Orton|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
Oil majors that were once the most powerful corporations in the world lost much of their footing in 2020, along with many billions of dollars.
Oil companies’ losses in 2020 were staggering. And that was before the government focused on climate change.|Will Englund|February 4, 2021|Washington Post

These are heady figures for an industry that gained its footing only 20 years ago.
How should SaaS companies deliver and price professional services?|Walter Thompson|December 18, 2020|TechCrunch
President Obama pledged an estimated $175 million and sent more than 4,000 troops to help the region regain its footing.
Jail Threats for Sierra Leone Ebola Victims’ Families|Abby Haglage|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Before we get off the phone, Kent stumbles and stammers until finding her footing in a heartwarming anecdote.
‘The Babadook’ Is the Best (and Most Sincere) Horror Movie of the Year|Samuel Fragoso|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“You cannot put women and men on an equal footing,” Erdogan said, according to the Associated Press.
Allah, Mom, and Baklava: Turkish President Uses Mothers and Kids as Political Pawns|Xanthe Ackerman|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Today was the only time all week that Xi shared a platform with another world leader in Beijing on an equal footing.
Obama and Xi Jinping Say They’ll Work Together to Save Environment|Ben Leung|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Girma realized that law was her best tool to get equal footing for herself and the wider population of impaired Americans.
TEDx Talks Have a Disability Problem—but This Incredible Young Woman Is Working to Change That|Nina Strochlic|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He is a business man of great competence, and I think he ought to be able to do much to get things on to a ship-shape footing.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
He was certain that Delhi would fall if once the British secured a footing inside the fortifications.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
She never went there again; from the first she was acute enough to perceive that she could never get a footing in such society.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland
Margaret has been with you some time; has she not interfered, or tried to put things upon a right footing?
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
After all, it was not a social call, and if she did not dress it would put things on the right footing.
The Amazing Interlude|Mary Roberts Rinehart

British Dictionary definitions for footing

footing

/ (ˈfʊtɪŋ) /

noun

the basis or foundation on which something is establishedthe business was on a secure footing

the relationship or status existing between two persons, groups, etcthe two countries were on a friendly footing

a secure grip by or for the feet

the lower part of a foundation of a column, wall, building, etc

mainly US

the act of adding a column of figures
the total obtained

rare a fee paid upon entrance into a craft, society, etc, or such an entrance itself

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

footing

Origin of footing

Words nearby footing

Words related to footing

How to use footing in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for footing