ground zero

noun

|Updated on: 14 Jul 2018

Examples: ground zero in a Sentence

Definition of ground zero

1 : the point directly above, below, or at which a nuclear explosion occurs

2 : the center or origin of rapid, intense, or violent activity or change; broadly : center 2a

the party town that served as ground zero for those corporate … bashes
—Rich Eisen

3 : the very beginning : square one

See ground zero defined for English-language learners

See ground zero defined for kids

Examples of ground zero in a Sentence

ground zero in the battle over immigration laws
a city that was once ground zero for the insurance industry

Recent Examples of ground zero from the Web

New York Rangers Mike Richter, Eric Lindros and Mark Messier are pictured during a visit to thank rescue workers at ground zero on Sept. 16.

— melissa murphy, chicagotribune.com, "Museum exhibit highlights impact of sports after 9/11," 28 June 2018
The only hospital for military veterans in N.H. has become ground zero for an extraordinary rebellion led by doctors who say care for their patients is deteriorating fast.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Secret VA nursing-home ratings hid poor quality care from public," 18 June 2018
But Game 5 on Thursday will be in Las Vegas, ground zero for the Golden Knights' miraculous expansion-team dream season.

— editors, USA TODAY, "Lawmakers talk immigration, Stanley Cup Finals, NASA releases Mars info: 5 things to know Thursday," 7 June 2018
Beat freaks from around the world make a yearly pilgrimage just to hear the greatest DJs in the world spin at techno ground zero.

— kat bein, Billboard, "Claude VonStroke Will Release Detroit Movement Set as Live Album," 5 June 2018
Within the past six months, the city has hosted Africa’s first Afropunk Fest and welcomed a slew of new businesses and buildings to its trendy Maboneng neighborhood—ground zero for a new guard of designers, artists, activists, and musicians.

— amira rasool, Vogue, "Meet the Instagram-Sensation Design Duo Changing the Look of South African Fashion," 16 Apr. 2018
No talk of fallout, refugees, triage stations at hospitals, or even ground zero imagery of the stadium’s remains.

— joe pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "Hollywood Has No Idea How Nukes Work," 2 Apr. 2018
To restart his racing life, the starting line represents true ground zero.

— bryce miller, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Trainer Herrick and resilient horse follow music back from the flames," 30 Mar. 2018
The immigration issue has taken center stage in America, and the Texas border has become ground zero.

— marc martin, latimes.com, "The faces of the immigration issue | Scenes along the border," 21 June 2018

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

First Known Use of ground zero

1946

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

ground zero Synonyms

Synonyms

axis, base, capital, center, central, core, cynosure, epicenter, eye, focus, heart, hub, locus, mecca, navel, nerve center, nucleus, seat;

Related Words

headquarters;

happy hunting ground, hive, hotbed, hot spot, playground, playland;

kernel, nub, pith;

deep, thick;

essence, quintessence, soul;

attraction, lodestone (also loadstone), magnet, polestar;

Phrases

where it's at;

GROUND ZERO Defined for English Language Learners

ground zero

noun

Definition of ground zero for English Language Learners

: the point on the earth's surface directly above, below, or at which an explosion (especially a nuclear explosion) occurs
: the central point in an area of fast change or intense activity
: the beginning state or starting point