adjective
Common
grounded
GROWN-dihd
Grounded (adjective) means Sensible, realistic, and emotionally stable. Example: “Despite her fame, she remained remarkably grounded.”
adjective
1
Sensible, realistic, and emotionally stable.
"Despite her fame, she remained remarkably grounded."
"A grounded person can stay calm when things go wrong."
"My grounded sister always gives sensible advice."
2
Not allowed to fly, or forbidden from going out as punishment.
"All flights were grounded because of the storm."
"He was grounded for the whole weekend after coming home late."
"The pilots were grounded until the fog cleared."
How to use grounded
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither emotionally sensible and level-headed, or physically stopped from flying/going out.
Common pairings
stay grounded
grounded for a week
grounded aircraft
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more grounded
- Superlative
- most grounded
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Despite her fame, she remained remarkably _____.
Etymology
From Middle English grounded or i-grounded, equivalent to ground plus -ed.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for grounded
funded
pounded
founded
wounded
rounded
bounded
astounded
unfounded
confounded
compounded
dumbfounded
See all rhymes for grounded →
Frequently asked questions
What does “grounded” mean?
The word “grounded” means sensible, realistic, and emotionally stable. In plain terms, either emotionally sensible and level-headed, or physically stopped from flying/going out.
How do you pronounce “grounded”?
“Grounded” is pronounced GROWN-dihd (/ˈɡɹaʊn.dɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “grounded” in a sentence?
Here is “grounded” used in a sentence: “Despite her fame, she remained remarkably grounded.”
What part of speech is “grounded”?
“Grounded” is an adjective.
Is “grounded” a common word?
“Grounded” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “grounded” have?
“Grounded” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: sensible, realistic, and emotionally stable.
What is the difference between grounded meaning sensible and grounded meaning punished?
When describing personality, grounded means sensible, realistic, and emotionally stable, as in "she stayed grounded despite her success." When describing punishment, grounded means forbidden from going out or, for a pilot or aircraft, not allowed to fly, as in "he was grounded for a week." Context makes clear which sense applies.
Can grounded apply to things other than people, like flights?
Yes. Grounded is commonly used for aircraft or flights that are not allowed to fly, such as "all flights were grounded due to the storm." This usage extends the core idea of being kept on the ground rather than in the air.
Is grounded a compliment when describing a person?
Yes, when applied to personality, grounded is generally a compliment, describing someone sensible, realistic, and emotionally stable rather than easily rattled or unrealistic. It is often used to praise people who stay level-headed despite pressure, fame, or success.
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