ground zero

noun

1

: the point directly above, below, or at which an explosion and especially a nuclear explosion occurs

2

: the center or origin of rapid, intense, or violent activity or change

Mingo Junction … sits at ground zero of the longest steelworker strike in American history.

—Michael Janofsky

broadly : center sense 2a

… the party town that served as ground zero for those corporate … bashes.

—Rich Eisen

3

: the very beginning : square one

We'll have to go back to ground zero and start over.

Synonyms of ground zero

• center
• capital
• hub
• mecca
• focus
• base
• nucleus
• core
• seat
• nerve center
• heart

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

That day Lahaina, the cultural heart of West Maui, became ground zero of America’s deadliest wildfire in more than a century. —Josh Green, Time, 30 Oct. 2025

The last two have been described as ground zero for the devastation. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025

As this tricky forecast comes into focus, all signs point to Jamaica being ground zero for what could become one of the most destructive hurricanes of the season. —Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025

Guests of Harley Farms can experience the harvest from ground zero with their Public Farm Dinners among the goats that live on the premises. —AFAR Media, 25 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ground zero

• nonzero
• subzero
• biro
• spiro
• superhero

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