ground

noun, often attributive

\ ˈgrau̇nd

Definition of ground

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : the bottom of a body of water

b grounds plural

(1) : sediment sense 1

(2) : ground coffee beans after brewing

2a : a basis for belief, action, or argument ground for complaint —often used in plural sufficient grounds for divorce

b(1) : a fundamental logical condition

(2) : a basic metaphysical (see metaphysical sense 2) cause

3a : a surrounding area : background

b : material that serves as a substratum

4a : the surface of a planet (such as the earth or Mars)

b : an area used for a particular purpose the parade ground fishing grounds

c grounds plural : the area around and belonging to a house or other building

d : an area to be won or defended in or as if in battle

e : an area of knowledge or special interest covered a lot of ground in his lecture

5a : soil, earth

b : a special soil

6a : an object that makes an electrical connection with the earth

b : a large conducting body (such as the earth) used as a common return for an electric circuit and as an arbitrary zero of potential

c : electric connection with a ground

7 : a football offense utilizing primarily running plays

from the ground up

1 : entirely new or afresh The car has been redesigned from the ground up.

2 : from the very beginning : thoroughly built the resort from the ground up

into the ground

: beyond what is necessary or tolerable : to exhaustion labored an issue into the ground — Newsweek

off the ground

: in or as if in flight : off to a good start the program never got off the ground

on the ground

: at the scene of action

to ground

1 : into a burrow the fox went to ground

2 : into hiding might need to make a run for it and go to ground someplace— Edward Hoagland

ground

verb

grounded; grounding; grounds

Definition of ground (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to bring to or place on the ground

b : to cause to run aground

2a : to provide a reason or justification for our fears about technological change may be well grounded— L. K. Williams

b : to furnish with a foundation of knowledge : base an understanding … that is grounded in fact— Michael Kimmelman

3 : to connect electrically with a ground

4a : to restrict to the ground ground a pilot

b : to prohibit from taking part in some usual activities grounded her for a week

5 : to throw (a football) intentionally to the ground to avoid being tackled for a loss

intransitive verb

1 : to have a ground or basis : rely

2 : to run aground The ship grounded on a mud bank.

3 : to hit a grounder grounded back to the pitcher

ground

Definition of ground (Entry 3 of 3)

past tense and past participle of grind

Other Words from ground Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about ground

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Synonyms for ground

Synonyms: Noun

demesne, park, premises (also premisses), yard

Synonyms: Verb

base, hang, predicate, rest

Examples of ground in a Sentence

Noun

An apple fell to the ground. Mechanical problems kept the plane on the ground. They were lying on the ground. The flight was watched by many observers on the ground. planting seeds in the ground She drove a spike into the ground. They built their house on bare ground. We realized that we were on hallowed ground. They built their house on high ground. Each fall the birds return to their wintering grounds.

Verb

They grounded the ship on a sandbar. The plane was grounded by mechanical problems. Bad weather grounded his flight. a pilot grounded by health problems

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Police wrestled him to the ground, handcuffed him and placed him in a cruiser. — Bob Sandrick, cleveland.com, "Drunk Fairview Park man walks uninvited into Brook Park home: Brook Park Police Blotter," 12 July 2019 The victim said that Singer threw her phone against a fire pit, grabbed her and threw her to the ground, according to the statement. — Akira Kyles, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Westminster man charged with assault after alleged argument," 11 July 2019 The collaboration isn’t a complete surprise to folks with their ears to the ground in Birmingham’s craft brewing scene. — Shauna Stuart | Sstuart@al.com, al.com, "Chef Rita Bernhardt will host her first wine dinner at Satterfield’s," 11 July 2019 And, like thunder that shatters glass, came the sound of a porcelain jug falling to the ground, the liquid inside bursting out, spilling densely, slowly, silently, a deep silence—the kind that comes before the cry of a child whom someone is beating. — Silvina Ocampo, The New Yorker, "Skylight," 11 July 2019 After forcing the clerk to the ground, the thieves made their getaway. — Tonya Alanez, sun-sentinel.com, "Gas station clerk who shot and killed a robber ‘not facing charges’," 11 July 2019 The pedestrian, who was not identified, was walking through the convenience store’s parking lot when a 54-year-old Mattapoisett man driving a 2007 International Harvester truck struck her and knocked her to the ground, according to Benson. — Jeremy C. Fox, BostonGlobe.com, "Dennis Port woman suffers serious injuries after being struck by delivery truck," 11 July 2019 In one episode a Chinese father saves his son from a school shooting, heroically dodging a bullet then punching the gunman to the ground before an American SWAT team eventually arrives. — The Economist, "Few things worry China’s elite more than getting their kids into Harvard," 11 July 2019 But in a video posted by TMZ, the website points to A$AP Rocky who appears to grab one of the men and throw him to the ground. — Lisa Respers France, CNN, "Stars demand A$AP Rocky's release," 10 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Regulators grounded the aircraft in March after two fatal crashes that killed 346 people aboard Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air flights. — Alison Sider, WSJ, "Delta Gains From MAX Grounding and High Demand," 11 July 2019 Derby champ Pete Alonso of the Mets grounded a two-out, two-run single past Gleyber Torres in the eighth to close the NL's gap. — baltimoresun.com, "MLB All-Star Game: American League holds on for seventh straight victory, 4-3," 10 July 2019 Derby champ Pete Alonso of the Mets grounded a two-out, two-run single past Gleyber Torres in the eighth to close the NL’s gap. — Ben Walker, courant.com, "Bieber, AL pitchers quiet NL’s big bats for All-Star win," 10 July 2019 Derby champ Pete Alonso of the Mets grounded a two-out, two-run single past Gleyber Torres in the eighth to close the NL’s gap. — Ben Walker, The Mercury News, "AL strikes out 16, holds off NL for 4-3 win in All-Star Game," 9 July 2019 Derby champ Pete Alonso of the Mets grounded a two-out, two-run single past Gleyber Torres in the eighth to close the NL’s gap. — Ben Walker, The Denver Post, "AL holds off NL for 4-3 win in All-Star Game," 9 July 2019 Governments and aviation regulators grounded the 737 Max all across the world, with families, investors, and pilots all filing lawsuits against Boeing. — Abdi Latif Dahir, Quartz Africa, "Boeing is dedicating $100 million to families and communities affected by the 737 Max crashes," 3 July 2019 With the bases loaded, first baseman Will Craig grounded out to allow center fielder Jason Martin to score. — Robert Rimpson, The Courier-Journal, "Bats end latest home stand with a bang against the Indianapolis Indians," 3 July 2019 The ship grounded a mile north of the Boynton Inlet on Feb. 4, 1898. — John Christopher Fine, sun-sentinel.com, "Boynton Beach’s maritime past lives on with Lofthus shipwreck," 21 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ground.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Statistics for ground

Last Updated

15 Jul 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for ground

The first known use of ground was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for ground

ground

noun

English Language Learners Definition of ground

(Entry 1 of 2)

: the surface of the earth

: the soil that is on or under the surface of the earth

: an area of land

ground

verb

English Language Learners Definition of ground (Entry 2 of 2)

: to provide a basis or reason for (something)

: to cause a ship or boat to hit the ground below the water so that it cannot move

: to prevent (an aircraft or a pilot) from flying

See the full definition for ground in the English Language Learners Dictionary

ground

noun

\ ˈgrau̇nd

Kids Definition of ground

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : the surface of the earth Leaves fell to the ground.

2 : soil entry 2 sense 1, earth The beans themselves popped out of the ground.— Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie

3 : the bottom of a body of water The boat struck ground.

4 : an area of land sacred ground

5 : an area used for some purpose a hunting ground

6 grounds plural : the land around and belonging to a building the school grounds

7 : background sense 1

8 : a reason for a belief, action, or argument What is the ground for your complaint?

9 : an area of knowledge We covered a lot of ground in class.

10 : a level of achievement or success The company is losing ground.

11 grounds plural : material in a liquid that settles to the bottom coffee grounds

ground

verb

grounded; grounding

Kids Definition of ground (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : to provide a reason for The practices are grounded in tradition.

2 : to instruct in basic knowledge or understanding The students are well grounded in math.

3 : to run or cause to run aground ground a ship

4 : to connect electrically with the ground

5 : to prevent (a plane or pilot) from flying

6 : to prohibit from taking part in certain activities as punishment My parents grounded me for a week.

ground

Kids Definition of ground (Entry 3 of 3)

past tense and past participle of grind

ground

Medical Definition of ground

past and past part of grind

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ground

noun

Legal Definition of ground

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the foundation or basis on which knowledge, belief, or conviction rests : a premise, reason, or collection of data upon which something (as a legal action or argument) relies for validity sued the city on the ground that the city…had wrongfully released…records — City of Lawton v. Moore, 868 P.2d 690 (1993) listed adultery and alcoholism as the grounds for divorce

2 : a piece or parcel of land the design being to create high ground for use during overflow periods — Bright v. Perkins, 239 S.W.2d 281 (1951) a sudden disruption of a piece of ground from one man's land — Porter v. Arkansas Western Gas Co., 482 S.W.2d 598 (1972)

ground

transitive verb

Legal Definition of ground (Entry 2 of 2)

: to furnish a ground for : set on a basis that court grounded the disclosure requirement in negligence law — Scott v. Bradford, 606 P.2d 554 (1979) an argument grounded on falsehoods