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
4
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
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
Last season, India struggled to find his footing.
—
Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
The logistics giants had been undergoing negotiations since last February, and at times appeared on rocky footing—leading to the earlier winddown threat.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2026
Upgrades will require significant reinforcement of some walls and elevator shafts, though engineers have found ways to do the work by pouring new concrete footings and installing additional steel bracing without significantly impinging on internal spaces or being visible on exterior surfaces.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
This potential move is a striking reversal from the position staked out less than two years ago by the chain’s CEO—and a major gamble for a brand still finding its footing after a bruising bankruptcy.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for footing
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Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
The logistics giants had been undergoing negotiations since last February, and at times appeared on rocky footing—leading to the earlier winddown threat.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2026
Upgrades will require significant reinforcement of some walls and elevator shafts, though engineers have found ways to do the work by pouring new concrete footings and installing additional steel bracing without significantly impinging on internal spaces or being visible on exterior surfaces.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
This potential move is a striking reversal from the position staked out less than two years ago by the chain’s CEO—and a major gamble for a brand still finding its footing after a bruising bankruptcy.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for footing
Cite this Entry
“Footing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footing. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
footing
noun
foot·ing
ˈfu̇t-iŋ 
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
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