footing

American  

[foot-ing] / ˈfʊt ɪŋ /

noun

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; foot; surface to stand on; foothold.

5. a firm placing of the feet; foot; 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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of footing

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

Example Sentences

Muller, who is based in the US - where there are now said to be 52 million F1 fans - adds that "F1 is still trying to find its footing" there.

From BBC

City taverns have had a harder time finding their modern footing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Unlike a proper mystery, the audience never has the footing to hunt for clues.

From Los Angeles Times

The software rally has been led by beaten-down names that had struggled to find their footing heading into Thursday.

From MarketWatch

Once the market regained its footing, the firm’s growth and value strategies benefited from earnings growth and broadening out from technology, Rocco says.

From Barron's

Related Words

• foothold