bottom
bottom
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "bottom" is /ˈbɒtəm/.
First syllable (bot-):
/b/ - voiced bilabial plosive
/ɒ/ - open-mid back rounded vowel (as in "lot")
/t/ - voiceless alveolar plosive
Second syllable (-tom):
/ə/ - schwa (mid-central vowel, as in "about")
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: bottom
Plural: bottoms
Verb:
Base form: bottom
Third-person singular present: bottoms
Present participle: bottoming
Past tense: bottomed
Past participle: bottomed
Adjective:
bottom (typically used attributively, e.g., "bottom line")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The lowest part or point of something, whether physical or conceptual.
Synonyms: base, foot, foundation, lowest point, nadir
Antonyms: top, peak, apex, summit, zenith
Definition 2: The underlying or fundamental cause or principle of something.
Synonyms: core, essence, root, heart, crux
Antonyms: surface, periphery, exterior, facade
Definition 3: The part of the human or animal body on which one sits; the buttocks or rear end.
Synonyms: rear, behind, backside, seat, buttocks
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms in this sense, as it refers to a specific body part.)
Verb
Definition 1: To reach the lowest point or level; to stabilize or stop declining.
Example: The market is expected to bottom out next quarter.
Synonyms: stabilize, level off, hit rock bottom, plateau
Antonyms: peak, rise, increase, soar, escalate
Definition 2: To put a bottom on something; to provide with a base.
Synonyms: base, found, underpin, undergird
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as this is a constructive action.)
Adjective
Definition 1: Being the lowest in position, rank, or importance.
Example: She's on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder.
Synonyms: lowest, lowest-ranking, fundamental, last
Antonyms: top, highest, primary, first, uppermost
Examples of Use
Books:
"There's always a story at the bottom of things, if you just dig deep enough." (Neil Gaiman, Stardust)
"He found himself at the bottom of a steep ravine, the air suddenly still and cold." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit)
Newspapers:
"Analysts suggest that the housing market may finally be bottoming out, signaling a potential recovery." (The Wall Street Journal, Business Section)
"The article explored the bottom line impact of new regulations on small businesses." (The New York Times, Business Day)
Online Publications:
"The viral video showed the cat precariously balanced on the bottom shelf of the bookcase." (BuzzFeed, Animals Section)
"We need to get to the bottom of why these disparities persist in our education system." (The Guardian Online, Opinion Piece)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film (Dialogue): "We're starting from the bottom, but we're climbing to the top." (From the movie Rocky)
Television Series (Dialogue): "You haven't hit rock bottom until you've lost everything." (From the TV show Breaking Bad)
Song Lyrics: "I've been down so long, it looks like bottom to me." (B.B. King, "Sweet Little Angel")
Video Game (In-game text/dialogue): "Find the hidden key at the bottom of the well to open the secret passage." (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
Podcast: "Our guest today will discuss how to build a successful business from the bottom up." (How I Built This with Guy Raz, NPR)
General Public Discourse:
"I'm at the bottom of the list for tickets, so I don't have high hopes." (Heard in casual conversation at a concert venue)
"The company needs to focus on its bottom line if it wants to stay afloat." (Heard in a business meeting)
"Could you hand me that book from the bottom drawer?" (Heard in a home setting)
"Let's get to the bottom of this mystery." (Common idiom used in everyday conversation)
10 Famous Quotes Using Bottom
"I've been to the bottom and I've been to the top, and the top is where I plan to stay." (Muhammad Ali)
"The bottom line is, don't let anyone tell you what you can and can't do." (Oprah Winfrey)
"If you are going through hell, keep going." (Often attributed to Winston Churchill, sometimes interpreted as a metaphor for pushing through to the "bottom" or end of a struggle)
"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." (Harriet Tubman, where "reaching for the stars" implies rising from a low point or "bottom")
"At the bottom of all patriotism there is a great deal of personal vanity." (Oscar Wilde)
"We're all in the same boat, at the bottom of the same sea, and the waves of time roll over us all." (Attributed to Confucius, though likely a popular paraphrase of his philosophy)
"I've hit rock bottom a few times, but it's always been a good foundation for building something new." (Dolly Parton)
"Man can climb to the highest summits, but he cannot long remain there unless he is helped by the bottom." (African Proverb, emphasizing the importance of foundation/support)
"The only way out is through." (Robert Frost, a metaphorical quote implying one must go all the way to the "bottom" or end of a difficult situation)
"The bottom of the soul is a black forest of unutterable things." (Carl Jung)
Etymology
The word "bottom" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots all the way back to some of the earliest forms of language that eventually led to English.
In simple terms, "bottom" comes from the Old English word "botm" (or "bodan"). When it was first used in Old English (before the year 1150), it primarily meant "ground," "soil," "foundation," or the "lowest or deepest part of anything." Think of the bottom of a well, the ground beneath your feet, or the very base of a structure.
This Old English word itself came from an even older language family called Proto-Germanic, which is like the ancestor of many modern European languages, including German, Dutch, and the Scandinavian languages. In these related languages, you can see similar words like German "Boden" and Dutch "bodem," both of which still mean "ground" or "floor."
Going back even further, linguists believe that the Proto-Germanic word came from an ancient Proto-Indo-European root, *bhudh-, which also carried the meaning of "bottom" or "base." This ancient root is why you'll find similar-sounding words with related meanings in languages like Latin (fundus, meaning "bottom, foundation," which gives us words like "fund" and "foundation"), Greek (pythmen, meaning "foundation" or "bottom of a cup"), and even Sanskrit (budhnah, meaning "bottom").
So, in essence, "bottom" has always been about the lowest part of something, whether it's the ground, the base of an object, or the deepest part of a space. Over centuries, its meaning expanded to include things like the "bottom line" (the essential point) or the "bottom" (buttocks), but its core sense of "lowest part" has remained consistent since its very first known use in Old English.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bottom
Bottom line: The most important or essential point; the net result.
From the bottom of one's heart: Sincerely; with deep feeling.
Hit rock bottom: To reach the lowest possible point, often in terms of fortune or despair.
Bottom out: To reach the lowest point and then start to recover or stabilize (often used in economics).
Get to the bottom of something: To discover the true facts or cause of something.
Bottom feeder: A derogatory term for someone or something that preys on the vulnerable or takes advantage of desperate situations.
The bottom drops out: A sudden collapse or failure, usually financial.
At the bottom of the ladder/heap: In the lowest position in a hierarchy or group.
To bottom-feed: To exploit low-value or desperate situations.
From the bottom up: Starting from the very beginning or from the lowest level, often with an emphasis on building a solid foundation.
Bottom-dwelling: Living or existing at the lowest levels, often implying stagnation or unimportance.
On the bottom rung: In the lowest position, especially in a career or organization.
The bottom falls out: (Similar to "the bottom drops out") A sudden and complete failure or collapse.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bottom from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
