ground floor

noun

plural ground floors

1

: the floor of a building most nearly on a level with the ground : first floor sense 1

2

: a favorable position or privileged opportunity usually obtained by early participants

—used especially in the phrase in on the ground floor

investors who got in on the ground floor

Examples of ground floor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Graves created an elevated ground floor, flooding the lobby with morning sun that showcases an ethereal landscape mural by local painter Linda Fantuzzo. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026

In general, investors have reason to be enthusiastic about getting in on the proverbial ground floor of a newly public company. —Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026

The building features a Chase Bank branch on its ground floor, which remains open. —Laura Waxmann, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Mar. 2026

The band members appeared in different levels of the Guggenheim before joining forces on a circular stage on the museum’s ground floor. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ground floor

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• backdoor
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore