1
: the part of a building that is wholly or partly below ground level
2
: the ground floor facade or interior in Renaissance architecture
3
: the lowest or fundamental part of something
specifically
: the rocks underlying stratified rocks
4
chiefly New England
: a toilet or washroom especially in a school
5
a
: a low state, rank, or condition
With their stock in the basement and red ink all over their balance sheet, many struggling [companies] are finding that fund-raising has become an exceedingly difficult proposition.—
Brad Stone
Brad Stone
b
: the lowest place in the standings : cellar sense 2
Last year, the Phillies finished in the basement of the NL East with 68 wins, tied with the Cubs for the fewest wins in the league.—Boston Herald
Boston HeraldExamples of basement in a Sentence
we store our bicycles in the basement during the winter
the basement of the outdoor fountain needs a lot of restoration work
Recent Examples on the Web
The elder Greenberg taught his son photography in their basement bathroom; after college, the younger Greenberg entered city government, first in the Parks Department and later in the Department of Cultural Affairs.
—Robert Sullivan, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Don't go into a basement, or any room, if water covers the electrical outlets or if cords are submerged.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2025
Located in the brick-walled basement of Aunt Jenny’s Catfish Restaurant, the Julep Room is everything a speakeasy should be.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
Frank was also found bound in the basement, stabbed multiple times in the neck and chest.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for basement
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Robert Sullivan, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Don't go into a basement, or any room, if water covers the electrical outlets or if cords are submerged.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2025
Located in the brick-walled basement of Aunt Jenny’s Catfish Restaurant, the Julep Room is everything a speakeasy should be.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
Frank was also found bound in the basement, stabbed multiple times in the neck and chest.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for basement
Cite this Entry
“Basement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basement. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
basement
noun
base·ment
ˈbās-mənt 
: the part of a building that is entirely or partly below ground level
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