baseline

noun

base·​line ˈbās-ˌlīn How to pronounce baseline (audio)
often attributive
1
: a line serving as a basis
especially : one of known measure or position used (as in surveying or navigation) to calculate or locate something
2
a
: either of the lines on a baseball field that lead from home plate to first base and third base and are extended into the outfield as foul lines
b
3
: a boundary line at either end of a court (as in tennis or basketball)
4
: a usually initial set of critical observations or data used for comparison or a control
5
: a starting point
the baseline of this discussion

Examples of baseline in a Sentence

The experiment is meant only to provide a baseline for other studies. any year or event we use as the baseline for the Renaissance is going to be at least somewhat arbitrary
Recent Examples on the Web The Eclipse Soundscapes Project utilizes small audio recorders to capture five days of sound data — two days prior the eclipse, and two days after to act as a baseline to compare normal animal behavior to the eclipse behavior. Daniel Johnson, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 The proposal would provide about $900 billion for defense in fiscal 2025, about $16 billion more than the baseline. Josh Boak, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 Do multiple tests at different times of day and take the average of those tests as your baseline for shopping. Ken Colburn, The Arizona Republic, 11 Mar. 2024 In addition to providing excellence in ambience, food and service — the baseline for any restaurant of note — the Top 10 restaurants of 2022 would consider the same principles that earned culinarians the Food Fighter title the previous year. Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024 The very first step is to establish what your baseline of security looks like. Holly Corbett, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 After his fifth triple, Thompson skipped to the baseline and screamed to a raucous Chase Center crowd. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2024 Hohn sank a high-arcing jumper from the baseline in the middle of a 6-0 run to extend the lead to double digits for the first time at 29-18 with 6:46 left in the half. Dan Arritt, Orange County Register, 5 Mar. 2024 In the next game, Perez ripped a winner from the center of the baseline on another deciding point to help hold serve and the pair cruised to victory from there. Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'baseline.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of baseline was circa 1556

Dictionary Entries Near baseline

Cite this Entry

“Baseline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baseline. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

baseline

noun
base·​line ˈbās-ˌlīn How to pronounce baseline (audio)
1
: a line used as a base
2
a
: either of two straight lines on a baseball field leading from home plate to first base and third base and extending into the outfield
b

Medical Definition

baseline

noun
base·​line ˈbā-ˌslīn How to pronounce baseline (audio)
: a set of critical observations or data used for comparison or a control

More from Merriam-Webster on baseline

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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