Standard Lemma guide

footing

noun · verb · 18 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈfʊtɪŋ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʊtɪŋ
  • CMU ARPABET: F UH1 T IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A ground for the foot; place for the foot to rest on; firm foundation to stand on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A standing; position; established place; foothold.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A relative condition; state.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A tread; step; especially, a measured tread.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, dated, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A footprint or footprints; tracks, someone's trail.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, rare, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

Stability or balance when standing on one's feet.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • He lost his footing and fell down.
  • It was difficult to keep my footing on the ship during the storm.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

Mental stability or balance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

The act of adding up a column of figures; the amount or sum total of such a column.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

The act of putting a foot to anything; also, that which is added as a foot

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • the footing of a stocking

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

Foundation or basis for further advancement or development.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • The subsidy gives the organization a firm footing.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rootstock

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

A narrow cotton lace, without figures.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

noun

Meaning 12

The finer refuse part of whale blubber, not wholly deprived of oil.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

noun

Meaning 13

The thickened or sloping portion of a wall, or of an embankment at its foot; foundation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: architecture, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

noun

Meaning 14

A double-check of the numbers vertically.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: accounting, business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

verb

Meaning 15

present participle and gerund of foot

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

16

noun

Meaning 16

a place providing support for the foot in standing or climbing

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: foothold

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: support

Narrower terms: toehold

17

noun

Meaning 17

a relation that provides the foundation for something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they were on a friendly footing
  • he worked on an interim basis

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: basis, ground

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: foundation

Narrower terms: common ground

18

noun

Meaning 18

status with respect to the relations between people or groups

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • on good terms with her in-laws
  • on a friendly footing

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: terms

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: status, position

History

Etymology

From Middle English fotyng; equivalent to foot + -ing.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: опора (opora) — a ground for the foot
  • Danish: fodfæste — a ground for the foot
  • French: appui — a ground for the foot
  • French: prise — a ground for the foot
  • German: Halt — a ground for the foot
  • German: Grundlage — a ground for the foot
  • German: Basis — a ground for the foot
  • German: fester Stand — a ground for the foot
  • Greek: πάτημα (pátima) — a ground for the foot
  • Russian: опо́ра для ног (opóra dlja nog) — a ground for the foot
  • Swedish: fotfäste — a ground for the foot
  • Ottoman Turkish: پایه (paye) — a ground for the foot
  • French: position — a standing; position; established place; basis for operation
  • German: Standbein — a standing; position; established place; basis for operation
  • German: feste Basis — a standing; position; established place; basis for operation
  • German: Position — a standing; position; established place; basis for operation
  • Hungarian: alapok — a standing; position; established place; basis for operation
  • French: état — a relative condition; state
  • French: base — a relative condition; state
  • German: Basis — a relative condition; state
  • German: Zustand — a relative condition; state
  • Hungarian: helyzet — a relative condition; state
  • Hungarian: státusz — a relative condition; state
  • German: Schritt — a tread; step; especially, measured tread
  • German: Gang — a tread; step; especially, measured tread
  • Hungarian: lépés — a tread; step; especially, measured tread
  • Hungarian: léptek — a tread; step; especially, measured tread
  • Danish: fodfæste — stability or balance when standing on one's feet
  • German: Halt — stability or balance when standing on one's feet
  • Hungarian: egyensúly — stability or balance when standing on one's feet