: the lowest or most fundamental part or level
Synonyms
Examples of rock-bottom in a Sentence
Noun
After years of heavy drug use, she has finally reached rock bottom.
Their marriage has hit rock bottom.
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Source: Teal Insights analysis of International Monetary Fund data
The world spent the past decade-plus taking advantage of rock-bottom interest rates to binge on debt.
—Chelsey Dulaney, WSJ, 15 Nov. 2023
The company could demand rock-bottom prices, aided by the implicit threat that if one factory balked, another could be summoned from inside the same waiting room.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023
Another kind of investor prefers the slower, steadier race of diversified holdings and rock-bottom fees over a long-term time horizon.
—Chris Taylor, wsj.com, 7 Nov. 2023
That won’t make the hangover from rock-bottom interest rates any easier for some music stocks.
—Carol Ryan, WSJ, 29 Oct. 2023
But for Pinto, superior affordability plus rock-bottom listings give the Midwest the edge.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2023
Pulitzer said the rock-bottom price for Mar-a-Lago would be $300 million.
—Terry Spencer, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2023
Yet many rational people did so, urged on by years of rock-bottom interest rates.
—Barton Swaim, WSJ, 5 Oct. 2023
Evan Sidery, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
From the Los Angeles Times, a story on a former high school soccer star who reached rock bottom and has come back at Cal State Los Angeles.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
Scott said the source of his confidence is simple: He’s already hit rock bottom, in prison.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2023
The final month of the 2022 season saw the Trojans give up nearly 2,000 yards before hitting rock bottom in a crushing Cotton Bowl loss to Tulane.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2023
And somehow that rock bottom became a launching pad.
—Jim Hecht, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Sep. 2023
No, only the Browns could sink lower than Pittsburgh’s rock bottom.
—Jimmy Watkins, cleveland, 19 Sep. 2023
Contreras hit rock bottom when in 2002 she was arrested and jailed for driving under the influence of methamphetamine and for child endangerment.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2023
With rates at rock bottom, there was little benefit to locking away your money for six months, a year, or longer.
—Martha C. White, wsj.com, 8 Sep. 2023
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Adjective
Increasingly, homeowners chose not to sell and give up their rock-bottom mortgages.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Source: Teal Insights analysis of International Monetary Fund data
The world spent the past decade-plus taking advantage of rock-bottom interest rates to binge on debt.
—Chelsey Dulaney, WSJ, 15 Nov. 2023
The company could demand rock-bottom prices, aided by the implicit threat that if one factory balked, another could be summoned from inside the same waiting room.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023
Another kind of investor prefers the slower, steadier race of diversified holdings and rock-bottom fees over a long-term time horizon.
—Chris Taylor, wsj.com, 7 Nov. 2023
That won’t make the hangover from rock-bottom interest rates any easier for some music stocks.
—Carol Ryan, WSJ, 29 Oct. 2023
But for Pinto, superior affordability plus rock-bottom listings give the Midwest the edge.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2023
Pulitzer said the rock-bottom price for Mar-a-Lago would be $300 million.
—Terry Spencer, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2023
Yet many rational people did so, urged on by years of rock-bottom interest rates.
—Barton Swaim, WSJ, 5 Oct. 2023
Noun
The Colts’ offensive line hit rock bottom last season, but their rebound has been astronomical.
—Evan Sidery, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
From the Los Angeles Times, a story on a former high school soccer star who reached rock bottom and has come back at Cal State Los Angeles.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
Scott said the source of his confidence is simple: He’s already hit rock bottom, in prison.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2023
The final month of the 2022 season saw the Trojans give up nearly 2,000 yards before hitting rock bottom in a crushing Cotton Bowl loss to Tulane.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2023
And somehow that rock bottom became a launching pad.
—Jim Hecht, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Sep. 2023
No, only the Browns could sink lower than Pittsburgh’s rock bottom.
—Jimmy Watkins, cleveland, 19 Sep. 2023
Contreras hit rock bottom when in 2002 she was arrested and jailed for driving under the influence of methamphetamine and for child endangerment.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2023
With rates at rock bottom, there was little benefit to locking away your money for six months, a year, or longer.
—Martha C. White, wsj.com, 8 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rock-bottom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near rock-bottom
Cite this Entry
“Rock-bottom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rock-bottom. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
rock bottom
noun
: the lowest point or level
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