- present participle of foot.
footing
Americannoun
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the basis or foundation on which anything is established.
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the act of one who moves on foot, as in walking or dancing.
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a secure and established position.
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a place or support for the feet; surface to stand on; foothold.
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a firm placing of the feet; stability.
He regained his footing.
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Building Trades, Civil Engineering. the part of a foundation bearing directly upon the earth.
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position or status assigned to a person, group, etc., in estimation or treatment.
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mutual standing; reciprocal relation.
to be on a friendly footing with someone.
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entrance into a new position or relationship.
to gain a footing in society.
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a fee demanded from a person upon entrance into a trade, society, etc.
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the act of adding a foot to something, as to a stocking.
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that which is added as a foot.
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the act of adding up a column of figures.
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the total of such a column.
noun
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the basis or foundation on which something is established
the business was on a secure footing
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the relationship or status existing between two persons, groups, etc
the two countries were on a friendly footing
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a secure grip by or for the feet
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the lower part of a foundation of a column, wall, building, etc
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the act of adding a column of figures
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the total obtained
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rare a fee paid upon entrance into a craft, society, etc, or such an entrance itself
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That suggests the economy was on better footing after GDP fell 0.1% annualized in the first quarter following a 1% contraction in the final quarter of 2025.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026
Rolling into the restaurant and announcing you won't be footing your friends' booze bill can make you feel like a bit of a buzzkill if others are planning to live it up.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
"So anything perceived to be negative for equities, from higher inflation to even the potential for rate hikes, will knock the market off its footing after a historic run."
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
Rhys, also an executive producer on “Widow’s Bay,” refers to Dippold and Murai as a “match made in heaven,” and Murai’s grounded approach helped Rhys find his footing, while giving the actor room to experiment.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
As my mom found her footing, my dad seemed to struggle: He was often stressed and distracted, as my missing brother, Heritage, was always on his mind.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
