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noun C1 Advanced Common

grounds

growndz
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Grounds (noun) means Reasons or justification for something. Example: “She had grounds for filing a complaint.”

noun
1
Reasons or justification for something.
"She had grounds for filing a complaint."
"On what grounds did the council refuse the application?"
"There are good grounds for believing that the road will be closed."
2
The land surrounding a building, such as a garden or estate.
"Visitors can walk freely through the castle grounds."
"The hotel grounds include a lake, a rose garden and a tennis court."
"Children were playing football in the school grounds after lessons ended."
3
The solid particles that settle at the bottom of a liquid, especially coffee.
"Don't forget to empty the coffee grounds from the filter."
"He tipped the wet grounds from the pot into the compost bin."
"At the bottom of my cup there was a layer of fine grounds."

How to use grounds

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishReasons for something, the land around a building, or leftover solid bits at the bottom of a drink.

Common pairings
on the grounds that school grounds coffee grounds
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Word forms

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She had _____ for filing a complaint.

Etymology

For this form's origin, see the etymology given under its corresponding lemma.

Related words

Rhymes for grounds

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Frequently asked questions

What does “grounds” mean?
The word “grounds” means reasons or justification for something. In plain terms, reasons for something, the land around a building, or leftover solid bits at the bottom of a drink.
How do you pronounce “grounds”?
“Grounds” is pronounced growndz (/ɡɹaʊndz/ in IPA).
How do you use “grounds” in a sentence?
Here is “grounds” used in a sentence: “She had grounds for filing a complaint.”
What part of speech is “grounds”?
“Grounds” is a noun.
Is “grounds” a common word?
“Grounds” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “grounds” have?
“Grounds” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: reasons or justification for something.
What is an example of grounds for something?
Grounds are the reasons that justify an action or decision. Common examples include grounds for divorce, grounds for dismissal from a job, or grounds for appeal in a court case. In each, the word points to the accepted reasons that make the action valid or defensible.
What is the difference between grounds and reasons?
The two overlap, but 'grounds' suggests reasons solid enough to justify a decision, often formally or legally. Any explanation can be a reason, whereas grounds are the reasons considered strong enough to act on. You might have reasons to complain, but you need grounds to bring a case.
What does 'grounds for divorce' mean?
It refers to the accepted reasons a person can give for legally ending a marriage. Depending on the place and its laws, these might include separation, unreasonable behaviour, or simply irreconcilable differences. The grounds are the justification a court recognises for granting the divorce.

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