floor

1 of 2

noun

ˈflȯr 

plural floors

often attributive

1

: the level base of a room

2

a

: the lower inside surface of a hollow structure (such as a cave or bodily part)

b

: a ground surface

the ocean floor

3

a

: a structure dividing a building into stories

also : story

b

: the occupants of such a floor

The fourth floor held a get-together.

4

: the surface of a structure on which one travels

the floor of a bridge

5

: a large indoor space where a particular activity takes place

the factory floor

a dance floor

: as

a

: a main level space (as in a stock exchange or legislative chamber) distinguished from a platform or gallery

b

: the specially prepared or marked area on which indoor sports events take place

6

a

: the members of an assembly

took questions from the floor

b

: the right to address an assembly

The senator from Utah has the floor.

The lawmaker held the floor [=exercised the right to address the assembly] for several hours.

7

: a lower limit : base

see also take the floor

floor

2 of 2

verb

floored; flooring; floors

transitive verb

1

: to cover with a floor or flooring

2

a

: to knock or bring down

b

: flabbergast, dumbfound

3

: to press (the accelerator of a vehicle) to the floorboard

also : to accelerate rapidly

floored the van

floorer noun

Phrases

from the floor

basketball : in field goals as opposed to free throws

made 16 of 18 shots from the floor

Synonyms of floor

Noun

• bottom
• bed

Verb

• shock
• appall
• stun

Examples of floor in a Sentence

Noun

Keep your feet on the floor.

the floor of a car

She lives on the second floor of a five-story building.

His office is located on the fourth floor.

Verb

He floored me with his first punch.

The news just floored me.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That might sound familiar to Ingram, whom the Raptors definitely did not push onto the floor after acquiring him in February. —Eric Koreen, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2025

But Edwards was denied the in-bounds pass, which forced DiVincenzo to bring the ball up the floor. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Nov. 2025

Verb

Nonstructural details like flooring, the color of the exterior, cabinets, and countertops can be tailored to your style, too. —Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025

So, the developer beefed up the walls and flooring to meet higher standards and applied to switch the project away from rentals. —Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 15 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English flor, from Old English flōr; akin to Old High German fluor meadow, Latin planus level, and perhaps to Greek planasthai to wander

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing floor

• dance floor
• dirt floor
• first floor
• floor exercise
• floor lamp
• floor leader
• floor-length
• floor manager
• floor plan
• floor show
• floor-through
• forest floor
• get in on the ground floor
• ground floor
• have the floor
• held the floor
• hold the floor
• in on the ground floor
• on the cutting-room floor
• on the factory floor
• sea floor
• second floor
• shop floor
• take the floor
• the factory floor
• through the floor
• wipe the floor with

Rhymes for floor

• boar
• boer
• bore
• chore
• cor
• core
• corps
• crore
• door
• drawer
• flor
• for

Kids Definition

floor

1 of 2 noun

ˈflō(ə)r 

ˈflȯ(ə)r

1

: the part of a room on which one stands

2

a

: the lower inside surface of a hollow structure

the floor of a car

b

: a ground surface

the ocean floor

3

: a story of a building

lives on the second floor

floor

2 of 2 verb

1

: to cover with a floor or flooring

2

a

: to knock to the floor

b

: shock entry 3 sense 1, overwhelm

Medical Definition

floor

noun

ˈflō(ə)r, ˈflȯ(ə)r 

: the lower inside surface of a hollow anatomical structure

the floor of the pelvis

Legal Definition

floor

noun

1

a

: a main level space (as in a stock exchange or legislative chamber) distinguished from a platform or gallery

b

: members of an assembly

took questions from the floor

c

: the right to address an assembly

the senator from Utah has the floor

2

: a lower limit

a five percent floor on deductions for medical expenses