Showing results for "footing"

• present participle of foot.

footing

American  

[foot-ing] / ˈfʊt ɪŋ /

noun

• footings
  plural

1. the basis or foundation on which anything is established.

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

3. a secure and established position.

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

5. a firm placing of the feet; stability.

   He regained his footing.

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

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

8. mutual standing; reciprocal relation.

   to be on a friendly footing with someone.

9. entrance into a new position or relationship.

   to gain a footing in society.

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

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

12. that which is added as a foot.

13. the act of adding up a column of figures.

14. the total of such a column.

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footing British  

/ ˈfʊtɪŋ /

noun

1. the basis or foundation on which something is established

   the business was on a secure footing

2. the relationship or status existing between two persons, groups, etc

   the two countries were on a friendly footing

3. a secure grip by or for the feet

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

5. 1. the act of adding a column of figures

   2. the total obtained

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• footings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of footing

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at foot, -ing ¹

Explanation

Your footing is a supportive place to put your feet when you climb or balance. Once you find your footing at the top of a mountain, you can look around and enjoy the view. Your literal footing is what keeps you sturdy, and if you lose that footing, you stumble. Figuratively, your footing is your status or position, especially when compared to other people. So if every student in your class is on an equal footing, it means your teacher gives them all the same amount of attention and treats them fairly.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

footing footings

Economy, Tourism and Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn said the redundancy scheme was part of efforts to modernise the shipyard and put it on a more competitive footing.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Its fiscal first quarter results put it on a sound footing toward meeting its goal of $100 billion in annual revenue in the next two years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

They take the olive groves and the goats and the summer houses, and they take the makeshift shelters and the fragile new footing of people who had already lost everything once.

From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026

Novo has struggled to regain its footing against Lilly, an aggressive and strategic competitor in the GLP-1 market.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

I find my footing and walk behind the Beauty Minister into the main salon.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

In Ada Louise Huxtable’s architecture writing, buildings whirl off their footings and built interiors entice us to dance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 24, 2026

The size of the footings, he said,affects whether the tower is properly grounded.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2025

"The shallow footings of the garages have meant that the archaeological features have been well preserved and many of the finds are in excellent condition," a spokesman said.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2023

Several months ago, a reader asked for advice about pouring footings for a new house he was building.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 17, 2023

They sat on concrete footings, with about two feet of open space between the floorboards and the ground.

From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston

Related Words

• foothold