ground
ground
Pronunciation
/ɡraʊnd/
Word Form Variations
Noun: ground (singular), grounds (plural)
Verb: ground (base form), grounds (3rd person singular present), grounding (present participle), grounded (past simple, past participle)
Adjective: ground (can be used as an adjective, e.g., ground beef, ground zero)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The solid surface of the Earth, as opposed to the air or water; land.
Synonyms: earth, land, soil, terrain, turf
Antonyms: sky, air, water
Definition 2: An area of land used for a particular purpose or activity.
Synonyms: field, plot, territory, domain, preserve
Antonyms: (Context-dependent, e.g., for "training ground," there isn't a direct antonym)
Definition 3 (often plural "grounds"): The solid particles, such as coffee grounds, that remain after a liquid has been filtered or decanted.
Synonyms: dregs, sediment, lees, residue
Antonyms: liquid, clear
Definition 4 (often plural "grounds"): A reason, basis, or justification for a belief, action, or argument.
Synonyms: reason, basis, foundation, premise, justification, cause
Antonyms: unreason, baselessness
Verb
Definition 1: To connect an electrical circuit to the earth or to a large conducting body, to provide a safe return path for current.
Synonyms: earth, bond, connect
Antonyms: disconnect, unground
Definition 2: To prevent an aircraft from flying.
Synonyms: disable, immobilize, prohibit, restrict
Antonyms: permit, allow, fly
Definition 3: To punish someone, especially a child or adolescent, by forbidding them to go out or have certain privileges.
Synonyms: confine, restrict, punish, discipline
Antonyms: release, permit, allow
Definition 4: To establish something firmly as a basis or foundation for something else.
Synonyms: base, found, establish, premise, root
Antonyms: unground, undermine, destabilize
Definition 5: To reduce something to small particles or powder by crushing or grinding.
Synonyms: grind, crush, mill, pulverize
Antonyms: whole, unground (in the sense of not being ground up)
Adjective
Definition 1: Having been reduced to small particles or powder by grinding.
Synonyms: milled, crushed, powdered, pulverized
Antonyms: whole, unground
Definition 2: Situated on or near the surface of the earth.
Synonyms: surface, terrestrial, low-lying
Antonyms: aerial, airborne, elevated, high
Examples of Use
Books:
"He stood his ground against the fierce winds, his cloak whipping around him like a flag." (From a fantasy novel, exact title varies by author, common in such genres)
"The detective meticulously searched the grounds of the old mansion, looking for any clue, however small." (Common in mystery novels)
"The author's arguments were grounded in extensive historical research, making them difficult to dispute." (Common in academic or non-fiction books)
"They spent their childhood exploring the vast, untamed ground beyond the village, where secrets and adventures lay hidden." (From a coming-of-age story)
Newspapers:
"Local residents broke ground yesterday on the new community center, marking a significant step for the project." (Often seen in local news reports about construction)
"The company cited declining profits as the grounds for the recent layoffs." (A common phrase in business news)
"Heavy rains turned the football pitch into a muddy ground, making play challenging for both teams." (From a sports report)
"Police are urging caution as the search for the missing hiker continues on difficult ground in the national park." (From a breaking news report)
Online Publications:
"How to Ground Yourself When Feeling Overwhelmed: Simple Mindfulness Techniques" (Article title on a wellness blog, e.g., Mindful.org)
"Tech giant faces legal grounds for patent infringement lawsuit" (Headline on a technology news site, e.g., TechCrunch)
"The new policy is designed to ground ethical AI development in practical applications." (From an article on an AI research website, e.g., MIT Technology Review)
"Gardening Tips: Preparing Your Ground for a Bountiful Harvest" (From a gardening blog or website, e.g., Gardeners' World Online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: (Dialogue) "You're not allowed to leave the house. You're grounded, young man!" (Common line in family dramas or comedies involving teenagers)
Video Games: (Gameplay description) "The character can use a special ability to ground airborne enemies, making them vulnerable to attack." (From a game's tutorial or ability description, e.g., Overwatch)
Music: "We stood on holy ground, watching the sunrise" (Lyrics from a song, common in spiritual or reflective music)
Television Series: (News report within a show) "The airline has grounded all flights due to technical issues." (Seen in news segments within fictional shows like The Good Doctor or Grey's Anatomy)
Podcasts: (Discussion) "Our guest today will help us ground this complex theory in real-world examples." (From an educational or interview podcast)
General Public Discourse:
"Let's try to find some common ground on this issue so we can move forward." (Heard in meetings, negotiations, or general conversations about conflict resolution)
"He's very down-to-earth; always keeps his feet on the ground." (A common idiom used to describe someone practical and realistic)
"I'm feeling a bit out of sorts, I just need to ground myself." (A common phrase used when someone feels overwhelmed or disconnected, referring to emotional grounding)
"The baby cried for his mother and refused to be put on the ground." (Heard in everyday conversations describing a child's behavior)
"After the storm, there was debris all over the ground." (A simple, common observation after a weather event)
10 Famous Quotes Using Ground
"I have no doubt that it is possible to give a new direction to human energy, by training men to use the creative power of their imagination. The power that makes a man a poet, a painter, or a musician is also the power that makes a man a saint or a prophet, and it is the same power that makes a man a criminal or a devil. It is all a matter of how the power is used and for what purpose. It is all a matter of how a man grounds himself in reality." (Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi)
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. Ground yourself in your passion." (Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Address, 2005)
"I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy. I believe that every man has a right to express his opinions, and to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience, and that no man should be molested or injured on ground of his religion." (Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason)
"Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own. Ground yourselves in this purpose." (John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, 1961)
"A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything." (Attributed to Malcolm X; often paraphrased to "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything," implying a lack of firm ground)
"We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream." (Martin Luther King Jr., "I Have a Dream" speech, 1963; speaks to the unwavering ground of justice)
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." (Ralph Waldo Emerson; implies finding and holding your own ground)
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." (Eleanor Roosevelt; suggests the power to control your own mental ground)
"The unexamined life is not worth living." (Socrates; encourages a deep understanding and firm grounding in one's own existence)
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince; while not using "ground," it metaphorically speaks to inspiring a shared foundation or ground of purpose)
Etymology
The word "ground" has a deep history, going back many centuries. In easy-to-understand terms, here's its journey:
Imagine way, way back in time, even before what we call "Old English." There was a language called Proto-Germanic, which is like the great-grandparent of English, German, Dutch, and other similar languages. In this ancient language, there was a word, something like *grundu-. This word likely meant "deep place" or "bottom." Think of the bottom of a pit, a well, or even the lowest part of something.
When English started forming, this word evolved into the Old English term "grund." The first known uses of "grund" (before the year 900 AD) already had several meanings, all related to this idea of "bottom" or "foundation":
The surface of the earth: This is the most common meaning we use today – the land we walk on. It was seen as the "bottom" or "foundation" of the world as people experienced it.
Bottom of the sea: This makes sense, as the seabed is the "bottom" of the water. (We still see this in phrases like "run aground").
Abyss or Hell: These were considered "deep places" or "bottomless pits."
Foundation: This meaning extended to the idea of a base or underlying support for something, much like the foundation of a building.
Over time, as English continued to develop into Middle English and then Modern English, the word "ground" kept these core meanings and also gained new ones:
The sense of "reason" or "motive" (as in "grounds for divorce") appeared around the 1200s, building on the idea of a "foundation" for an argument or decision.
The electrical sense, referring to a connection to the earth, came much later, around the 1870s, as electricity became a thing.
The verb "to ground" (meaning to reduce to small particles, like "ground coffee") comes from a different but related root, the Old English word "grindan," meaning "to rub together" or "crush."
So, in essence, the word "ground" started as a way to describe the "bottom" or "foundation" of things, especially the surface of the earth, and then expanded to cover various related ideas, from physical bases to logical reasons.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Ground
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "ground":
Break new ground: To do something innovative or previously unexplored.
Common ground: Shared interests, beliefs, or opinions between people.
Gain ground: To make progress or advance.
Give ground: To retreat or yield in an argument or conflict.
Hold one's ground: To maintain one's position, opinion, or resolve.
Lose ground: To lose advantage or fall behind.
On solid ground: Having a firm and reliable basis for an argument, decision, or situation.
Run aground: (For a ship) to hit the bottom in shallow water; (figuratively) to encounter an insuperable obstacle.
Staking a claim on new ground: Asserting ownership or rights over a new area or idea.
Touch base / Touch ground: To briefly make contact with someone or a situation.
Underground: (Literally) below the surface of the earth; (figuratively) secret or subversive.
Grounds for divorce/argument/suspicion: A valid reason or justification for something.
Ground-breaking: Innovative or pioneering.
Plow the same ground: To repeatedly discuss or work on the same topic without making progress.
From the ground up: Starting from the very beginning or from scratch.
Low to the ground: Physically close to the surface; (figuratively) humble or unassuming.
To get something off the ground: To successfully start a project or enterprise.
To have one's ear to the ground: To be well-informed about current trends or opinions.
To put down roots / To get grounded: To settle in a place or become established.
Beat into the ground: To discuss something excessively to the point of tedium.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of ground from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
