footing

1 of 2

noun

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

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Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The school is now on better financial footing, said Andy Jett, its chief operating officer. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 That these three fiercely original films found their footing under difficult circumstances created by their directors’ own ambition is now part of the lore surrounding their instant classic status. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2026 Even Rodrigo’s backing band, full of absolutely shredding women instrumentalists, played beside her on equal footing for exquisitely tasteful, post-punky revisions of songs across her three albums. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 The question is just how quickly Dart and the offense can find their footing and be sharp enough when the real games count without a ton of real game reps. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for footing

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Phrases Containing footing

Rhymes for footing

See All Rhymes for footing

Browse Nearby Words

foot Indian
footing
footing beam
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Footing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footing. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about footing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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