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Glite Dictionary
🤝 Relationship status 🦶 Stable position 🏗️ Building base
footing

footing

31 5.3
The basic state of a relationship between people or groups
  • noun
  • /ˈfʊtɪŋ/
: posición
  • First, suppose that a "service seeker" and a "service provider" are on equal footing in terms of negotiating power.
  • on equal footing
  • on sounder footing
  • gain equal footing

With me All Souls shall find a more honest footing.

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Examples

  • So I wanted to give them the opportunity to compete on that equal footing, women against women.

  • Boys are on an absolute equal footing with girls in such a class.

    Academic text (1994)

  • It's about giving people the resources and the support they need so that everyone can be on equal footing and then compete on equal footing.

  • I really would like to keep this on a professional footing.

    Ghost Town (2008)

  • Your divorce has put things on a different footing.

    Diana (2013)

  • So your investments are on solid footing.

    Arthur (2011)

  • One state that is moving to place the arts on an equal footing with technology is South Carolina.

    Academic text (1990)

  • But I think, from now on, I'd prefer to keep our relationship on a professional footing.

    Article 99 (1992)

  • Under Taif, Christians enjoy equal footing in government with Muslims, and the Christian president still enjoys wide powers.

    Academic text (1994)

  • In order for their partnership to thrive, they needed to establish an equal footing on both sides.

Synonyms

basis
vsfooting
∞ 3.0

The main support, reason, or way that something happens

applies specifically to the social or equality status within a relationship
standing
vsfooting
217 3.7

The level of respect or place someone has in a group

concerns the balance and friendliness between parties rather than public reputation
terms
vsfooting
1 3.2

The way two people or groups feel about and treat each other

focuses more on underlying equality or friendliness in the relationship

Antonyms

inequality
183 4.2

A situation where some people have fewer rights or chances than others

disparity
75 6.7

A large unfair difference in people's chances or treatment

How Friendly

friendship
751 1.0
rapport
42 5.5
footing
31 5.3
distance
129 5.4
estrangement
8 7.8
hostility
147 4.7

Surface Forms

footing singular
footings plural

Morphology

footing = foot (opaque) = foot + ing

The literal 'foot' + '-ing' structure is present, but the abstract sense of status or equality is a figurative extension that is not predictable from the parts alone.

Etymology

Footing also comes from foot, which was used to mean a 'base' or 'position' under something. That's why when people are 'on a good footing' with each other, they have a stable or fair basis in their relationship.