ground
grownd
Ground (noun) means the solid surface of the earth. Example: “Leaves covered the ground after the storm.”
noun
1
The solid surface of the earth.
"Leaves covered the ground after the storm."
"She knelt down and touched the ground."
"The children sat on the ground and ate their sandwiches."
2
A reason or basis for a belief, decision, or action.
"They had good grounds for their complaint."
"On what grounds did they refuse your application?"
"You have no grounds for blaming him for the delay."
3
An area of land used for a particular purpose, such as sport or school premises.
"The football ground was packed for the derby match."
"The school ground was empty at the weekend."
"The new sports ground has floodlights and a small cafe."
verb
1
To forbid a child or teenager from going out as a punishment.
"She was grounded for two weeks after missing curfew."
"My parents grounded me for a week after I lied to them."
"If you break the rules again, I will have to ground you."
2
To connect an electrical device safely to the earth.
"Make sure the appliance is properly grounded before use."
"The electrician grounded the wiring to prevent any shocks."
"Always ground the equipment before you switch it on."
3
To prevent an aircraft or pilot from flying.
"The entire fleet was grounded after the technical fault was discovered."
"Heavy fog grounded all flights at the airport this morning."
"The airline grounded the pilot until he passed a health check."
adjective
1
Crushed into small particles.
"Freshly ground pepper tastes far better than the pre-ground kind."
"Add a spoonful of ground cinnamon to the porridge."
"She bought ground coffee for the morning and put it in the cupboard."
How to use ground
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe earth's surface, a reason for something, or (as a verb) to stop someone going out, connect to earth electrically, or stop a plane from flying.
Common pairings
on the ground
grounds for
grounded for a week
grounded flight
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like ground.
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
- Plural
- grounds
- Third person singular
- grounds
- Past tense
- grounded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Leaves covered the _____ after the storm.
Etymology
From Old English grund, related to Dutch grond and German Grund, all meaning the earth's surface or a foundation.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for ground
See all rhymes for ground →Frequently asked questions
What does “ground” mean?
The word “ground” means the solid surface of the earth. In plain terms, the earth's surface, a reason for something, or (as a verb) to stop someone going out, connect to earth electrically, or stop a plane from flying.
How do you pronounce “ground”?
“Ground” is pronounced grownd (/ɡɹaʊnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “ground” in a sentence?
Here is “ground” used in a sentence: “Leaves covered the ground after the storm.”
What is another word for “ground”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ground” include earth.
What part of speech is “ground”?
Depending on how it is used, “ground” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “ground” come from?
The word “ground” comes from Old English. From Old English grund, related to Dutch grond and German Grund, all meaning the earth's surface or a foundation.
Is “ground” a common word?
“Ground” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “ground” have?
“Ground” has 7 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the solid surface of the earth.
What is the difference between 'ground' and 'floor'?
Ground is the natural solid surface of the earth, found outdoors — grass, soil, or pavement beneath your feet. A floor is the built surface inside a room or structure. So you stand on the ground in a park but on the floor at home. Outdoors it's ground; indoors it's usually the floor.
What is the difference between 'ground' and 'soil'?
Ground is the solid surface of the earth in general — the firm area you walk on. Soil is specifically the loose upper layer of earth in which plants grow. Soil is a material you can dig up and hold; ground is the broader surface, which may be soil, rock, sand, or paving.
What is an example of 'ground' in a sentence?
You might say 'the climbers were glad to be back on solid ground,' or 'she dropped her keys on the ground.' In both, ground means the earth's surface beneath you. The word also appears in phrases like 'stand your ground' and 'break ground,' which stretch the idea into figurative use.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include ground:
