baseline

noun

base·​line ˈbās-ˌlīn 

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

: basepath

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

Synonyms

• alpha
• beginning
• birth
• commencement
• dawn
• day one
• genesis
• get-go
• git-go
• inception
• incipience
• incipiency
• kickoff
• launch
• morning
• nascence
• nascency
• onset
• outset
• start
• threshold

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

That said, here are some things everyone can do to maintain healthy eyes: READ MORE: Why so many animals have a third eyelid, including our pets Vision development in children All children should have a baseline eye exam during infancy and then again between 6 and 12 months of age. —Benjamin Botsford, CNN, 10 June 2024

First Quarter Al Horford, who started in place of Kristaps Porzingis, scored the game’s first basket off a baseline dunk. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 June 2024

In the study, the levels the team recorded likely reflected baseline levels of xylitol rather than xylitol from the diet, since the chemical clears the body in four to six hours, and the volunteers had fasted overnight. —Alice Park, TIME, 6 June 2024

As technological advances have taken stock exchanges online and lowered the baseline cost of offering high-quality services, the exchanges have sought alternative means of attracting customers, Tabb said. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

baseline

noun

base·​line ˈbās-ˌlīn 

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

: base path

Medical Definition

baseline

noun

base·​line ˈbā-ˌslīn 

: a set of critical observations or data used for comparison or a control