floor
flaw
Floor (noun) means the surface on which you walk inside a room or building. Example: “The toddler sat on the floor and stacked her wooden blocks.”
noun
1
The surface on which you walk inside a room or building.
"The toddler sat on the floor and stacked her wooden blocks."
"We need to replace the old wooden floor in the hallway."
"She swept the kitchen floor after dinner."
2
A storey or level of a building.
"The lift stops at every floor, so the journey takes a while."
"They live on the top floor, with views across the whole town."
"Our office is on the fourth floor."
3
A set minimum limit, especially for a price or rate.
"The farmers asked for a floor under crop prices so they could plan ahead."
"Shares dropped quickly but found a floor and began to recover."
"The government set a floor on the minimum wage."
verb
1
To knock someone down, or to shock or overwhelm them completely.
"The sudden gust of wind floored the runner just before the finish line."
"The punch floored him instantly."
"The news absolutely floored her."
How to use floor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe ground-level surface you stand on, a level of a building, or (informally) to knock down or shock someone.
Common pairings
ground floor
floor a rate
that floored me
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Word forms
- Plural
- floors
- Third person singular
- floors
- Past tense
- floored
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The toddler sat on the _____ and stacked her wooden blocks.
Etymology
From Old English flōr ("floor, pavement"), from a Germanic root going back to a Proto-Indo-European word for "flat."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for floor
See all rhymes for floor →Frequently asked questions
What does “floor” mean?
The word “floor” means the surface on which you walk inside a room or building. In plain terms, the ground-level surface you stand on, a level of a building, or (informally) to knock down or shock someone.
How do you pronounce “floor”?
“Floor” is pronounced flaw (/floɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “floor” in a sentence?
Here is “floor” used in a sentence: “She swept the kitchen floor after dinner.”
What is another word for “floor”?
Words with a similar meaning to “floor” include flooring, ground and flight.
What is the opposite of “floor”?
The opposite of “floor” — its antonyms — are ceiling and roof.
What part of speech is “floor”?
Depending on how it is used, “floor” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “floor” come from?
The word “floor” comes from Old English. From Old English flōr ("floor, pavement"), from a Germanic root going back to a Proto-Indo-European word for "flat.".
Is “floor” a common word?
“Floor” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between the floor and the ground?
The floor is the walking surface inside a building — a made surface such as wood, tile, or carpet. The ground is the natural land surface outside, or the earth beneath a building. In short, you stand on the floor indoors and on the ground outdoors.
Does 'floor' also mean a level of a building?
Yes. Besides the surface you walk on, 'floor' commonly means a storey — a whole level within a building, as in 'the office is on the third floor'. Both senses are everyday English; context makes clear whether you mean the surface underfoot or an entire level.
What are common types of flooring?
The floor's surface can be finished in many materials. Popular choices include hardwood, laminate, vinyl, tile, stone, and carpet. Each balances cost, durability, comfort, and appearance differently, which is why the same room can be floored in very different ways depending on its use and budget.
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