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ground 1 of 3

noun

ˈgrau̇nd How to pronounce ground (audio)
Definition of groundnext
1
as in yard
grounds plural the area around and belonging to a building an escorted tour of the White House and its surrounding grounds

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2
as in sediment
grounds plural matter that settles to the bottom of a body of liquid strain the coffee to remove the grounds

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3
as in reason
grounds plural something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing evicted the tenants on the grounds that they violated the lease

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4
as in field
a small area of usually open land I'll meet you at the parade ground in two hours

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5
as in basis
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests opposed to the notion that religious law should be used as a ground for civil law

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6
as in soil
the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow stuck the shovel in the ground and went inside for a glass of water

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7
as in backdrop
the physical conditions or features that form the setting against which something is viewed take her picture against a blue ground in order to bring out her blue eyes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in land
the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air was glad to be back on the ground after a turbulent flight

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ground

2 of 3

adjective

as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something chopping wood with a finely ground axe

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ground

3 of 3

verb

as in to base
to find a basis you're grounding your entire case on circumstantial evidence

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ground
Noun
At the start of the 1986-87 season, a combination of previous boardroom incompetence and broader economics saw Middlesbrough not just in the Third Division, but with their ground, Ayresome Park, padlocked. — Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 The building is three stories tall, and customers can drive right into it by means of a ground-level tunnel. — David Owen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Adjective
CoffeeGeek’s analysis found K-Cups can cost the equivalent of $21 to $43 per pound, while quality whole beans run $9 to $22 — and whole beans stay fresh far longer than pre-ground. — Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026 Salt and freshly ground black pepper Remove visible fat from the pork tenderloin. — Linda Gassenheimer, Boston Herald, 20 May 2026
Verb
Yelich grounded his double down the left-field line off Carmen Mlodzinski (7-7) to erase a 4-3 deficit. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 Marte took third on a wild pitch before Moreno grounded out to end the game. — Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ground
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ground
  1. yard
  2. sediment
  3. reason
  4. field
  5. basis
  6. soil
  7. backdrop
  8. land
Noun
  • For multi-generation families that want to stay together, Benton Cottage offers the perfect base, containing four bedrooms and bathrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, and enclosed back yard.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The winning score comes in the final minute when linebacker Jimmy Morris returns an interception 25 yards for a touchdown.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of yard
Noun
  • Shower filters are better at reducing substances like chlorine, sediment and certain metals.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026
  • These filters perform much better against chlorine, sediment and select heavy metals.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of sediment
Noun
  • This year’s Emmy Awards opening was sponsored by Marriott Hotels, for some reason.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Many believe that the reason the good opportunities have seemingly disappeared is because the market is too crowded.
    — Justin Donald, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of reason
Noun
  • Of course, one of the best parts of writing a road trip novel is the field research—which for me, involved driving Route 66 over three weeks in October 2021 with my British partner and 1-year-old in tow.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Andy Reid has built an unprecedented resume on the field as the only coach with 100 NFL coaching wins for two different franchises.
    — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of field
Noun
  • The charging instrument, known as an information, omits references to the specific acts that the state alleges are the basis for the disruption offense, the attorney, Tiffany Burks, wrote in the motion that was filed on Wednesday.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Perrin recently curated a traveling Renoir exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay, the institution that also lent on a long-term basis all four of the paintings that were stolen from the Renoir Museum in southern France.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of basis
Noun
  • The text of the agreement, which has been released publicly by the administration, establishes a joint study between the two countries on the feasibility of an enrichment facility on Saudi Arabian soil.
    — Chris Boccia, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • If your home uses a septic system, wastewater flows into a tank and filters through soil.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of soil
Noun
  • As the team works within it and the clothes move through the space, the store becomes a backdrop that is never quite fixed, but continually responding to the world being built around it.
    — Michael Anthony Hall, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Volatility tends to ease in November, with the VIX falling around 4% as the midterm results remove a key political overhang and provide investors with greater clarity on the policy backdrop, said James Ooi, market strategist at Tiger Brokers.
    — Joanna Ossinger,Justina Lee, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of backdrop
Noun
  • Fertile lands afforded the capacity to grow export crops that supported farmers and made plantation owners fabulously wealthy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Before construction began, the lot of land was flat and covered with vegetation.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of land

Phrases Containing ground

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grouchy
ground
groundbreaker
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Cite this Entry

“Ground.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ground. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ground

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ground

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