footing

noun

foot·​ing ˈfu̇-tiŋ How to pronounce footing (audio)
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

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 Bathing, as well as being a relaxing ritual in itself, is a great way to raise body temperature and in turn kick-start the body’s circadian rhythm to get it back on a more regular footing. Georgia Day, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024 Finding the personal and financial footing to pursue a home can be an ordeal of its own. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2024 This puts Apple on the same footing as Google because the iPhone maker will allow users to download apps from other app stores. Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 The time to make that move would be the summer before your son’s freshman year of high school, because at that time every student will be entering a new environment and be on more equal footing socially. Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2024 But that’s proven to be legally questionable, leading companies to try to get data on firmer footing. Wes Davis, The Verge, 17 Feb. 2024 The takeaway: The economy is not only on solid footing but could drive inflation higher again as consumers continue to spend their rapidly rising paychecks. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Despite facing a tumultuous period, particularly after the FTX crisis, Solana has demonstrated remarkable resilience and regained its footing. Tyler Shepherd, The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024 Hong Kong/Beijing CNN — China has reported a record upsurge in travel and consumption during a longer-than-usual Lunar New Year holiday season, touting the gains as signs that the world’s second largest economy is regaining its footing thanks to the government’s supportive policies. Laura He, CNN, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'footing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of footing was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near footing

Cite this Entry

“Footing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

footing

noun
foot·​ing ˈfu̇t-iŋ How to pronounce footing (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on footing

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