bottom
BO-tuhm
Bottom (noun) means the lowest part of something. Example: “Please sign your name at the bottom of the page.”
noun
1
The lowest part of something.
"Please sign your name at the bottom of the page."
"They found the keys at the bottom of her bag."
"The ship sank to the bottom of the ocean."
2
A person's buttocks.
"He slipped on the ice and landed hard on his bottom."
"The nurse gently patted the baby's bottom after the nappy change."
"The toddler fell right on her bottom."
verb
1
To reach the lowest point possible, especially in "bottom out."
"Experts hope that house sales have bottomed out and will start to recover soon."
"Her mood bottomed out after the long winter, but spring cheered her up."
"Prices finally bottomed out after months of decline."
adj
1
Lowest in position, rank, or order.
"The bottom shelf of the cupboard is where we keep the heavy saucepans."
"Our team stayed in the bottom half of the table all season."
"He finished at the bottom of the class."
How to use bottom
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe lowest part or point of something — literally (the bottom of a box) or figuratively (bottom of a list) — or, informally, a person's buttocks.
Common pairings
bottom of the list
bottom out
from the bottom up
hit rock bottom
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like bottom.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- bottoms
- Past tense
- bottomed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Please sign your name at the _____ of the page.
Etymology
From Old English botm, going back to a very old Indo-European root meaning "bottom" or "foundation," shared with similar words across many European languages.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “bottom” mean?
The word “bottom” means the lowest part of something.
How do you pronounce “bottom”?
“Bottom” is pronounced BO-tuhm (/ˈbɑ.təm/ in IPA).
How do you use “bottom” in a sentence?
Here is “bottom” used in a sentence: “They found the keys at the bottom of her bag.”
What part of speech is “bottom”?
Depending on how it is used, “bottom” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “bottom” come from?
The word “bottom” comes from Old English. From Old English botm, going back to a very old Indo-European root meaning "bottom" or "foundation," shared with similar words across many European languages.
Is “bottom” a common word?
“Bottom” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “bottom” have?
“Bottom” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the lowest part of something.
What is the opposite of 'bottom'?
The direct opposite is 'top', the highest part of something, as in the top and bottom of a page. Depending on context, 'summit', 'peak', or 'surface' can also serve, since the surface of water sits above its bottom and a mountain's peak stands over its base.
What is the difference between 'bottom' and 'base'?
'Bottom' is the lowest part of anything, like the bottom of a lake, a bag, or a page. 'Base' is the part something stands or rests on, suggesting support, like the base of a statue. A base is usually a bottom, but 'bottom' is the broader, more everyday word.
What is an example of 'bottom'?
You will find it in phrases like the bottom of the sea, the bottom of the stairs, the bottom of a page, or the bottom of a glass. In each case it marks the lowest point or underside of something, standing as the opposite of its top.
Can 'bottom' be used as a verb?
Yes, mainly in the phrase 'bottom out', which means to reach the lowest point before recovering, as when prices or a slump bottom out. As a standalone verb it is rare, so most everyday use is as a noun meaning the lowest part of something.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include bottom:
