ground zero

noun

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 sense 2a
the party town that served as ground zero for those corporate … bashes Rich Eisen
3
: the very beginning : square one

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 on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For 30 years, Hal’s Bar and Grill was ground zero for a burgeoning Venice scene on the street that in 1990 was renamed from West Washington to Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Brad Johnson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025 The reporters quickly figured out that ground zero for RainbowEx was the work force at Papel Prensa, a paper factory and the country’s largest newsprint supplier. David Segal, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 Latin America, with its high levels of stablecoin adoption, solid talent base and crypto-friendly macro conditions has proven to be ground zero for these solutions. Aaron Stanley, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025 The Mediterranean-style digs that served as ground zero for the long-running E! series Keeping Up With the Kardashians, which turned the Kardashian-Jenner clan into reality stars, has just hit the market for $13.5 million, The New York Times reported. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ground zero

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ground zero was in 1946

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ground zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ground%20zero. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

ground zero

noun
1
: the site of a nuclear explosion
2
: the center of rapid, intense, or violent activity or change
3
: the very beginning : square one

More from Merriam-Webster on ground zero

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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