root
23 synonyms and 0 antonyms for root, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The underground part of a plant that anchors it and draws in water and nutrients.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use root
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old Norse rót, going back to a Proto-Germanic word for "root" that is also the ancestor of "wort" and a distant relative of Latin radix (source of "radish" and "radical").
Full origin of root →Frequently asked questions
What does “root” mean?
The word “root” means the underground part of a plant that anchors it and draws in water and nutrients. In plain terms, the base or source of something — literally a plant's underground anchor, or figuratively the true cause behind a problem.
How do you pronounce “root”?
“Root” is pronounced rwt (/ɹuːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “root” in a sentence?
Here is “root” used in a sentence: “The tree's roots had cracked the pavement over the years.”
What part of speech is “root”?
Depending on how it is used, “root” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “root” come from?
The word “root” comes from Latin. From Old Norse rót, going back to a Proto-Germanic word for "root" that is also the ancestor of "wort" and a distant relative of Latin radix (source of "radish" and "radical").
Is “root” a common word?
“Root” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “root” have?
“Root” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the underground part of a plant that anchors it and draws in water and nutrients.
What is the difference between root and route?
These sound-alike words have unrelated meanings. A root is the underground part of a plant, or figuratively the origin of something, as in the root of a problem. A route is a way or path from one place to another. If you mean directions or a journey, use route; if you mean a plant part or a source, use root.
What are the meanings of root?
Root has several senses. Literally it is the underground part of a plant that anchors it and takes in water. Figuratively it means the origin or cause of something, as in the root of a dispute. It also names the part of a tooth or hair below the surface, and in maths, a value like a square root.
What is an example of a root?
The most familiar example is a plant root, such as a carrot or the spreading roots of a tree that hold it in the soil. Figuratively, people speak of the root of a problem, meaning its underlying cause, or of a person's roots, meaning their family origins and cultural background.
What does it mean to get to the root of something?
It means to find the true underlying cause of a problem rather than just its surface symptoms. Just as a plant's root lies hidden beneath the soil, the root of an issue is the deeper source that must be uncovered and addressed if the problem is to be solved properly and for good.