Ground zero
Ground zero
Pronunciation
/ˌɡraʊnd ˈzɪəroʊ/
ground /ɡraʊnd/:
/ɡ/: voiced velar stop, as in "goat"
/r/: voiced alveolar approximant, as in "run"
/aʊ/: diphthong, as in "house"
/n/: voiced alveolar nasal, as in "no"
/d/: voiced alveolar stop, as in "dog"
ze /zɪ/:
/z/: voiced alveolar sibilant, as in "zebra"
/ɪ/: near-close near-front unrounded vowel, as in "it"
ro /roʊ/:
/r/: voiced alveolar approximant, as in "run"
/oʊ/: diphthong, as in "open"
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: ground zero
Plural Noun: ground zeros
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
The exact point on the surface of the earth or a building where a bomb, especially a nuclear one, explodes.
Synonyms: epicenter, blast site, hypocenter, impact point
Antonyms: periphery, outer edge, distant point
The very beginning of a new project, process, or endeavor; the starting point from which all progress is measured.
Synonyms: starting point, beginning, commencement, inception, scratch
Antonyms: conclusion, culmination, finish, end
A site of significant destruction or disaster, often one that becomes a focal point for remembrance, mourning, and rebuilding.
Synonyms: disaster site, epicenter of tragedy, memorial site, hallowed ground
Antonyms: untouched area, serene location, intact site
Examples of Use
In a news report, a journalist might write, "The city's rebuilding efforts began at ground zero, where the twin towers once stood, symbolizing a determination to rise from the ashes" (The New York Times, September 2021).
A scientist might say in a documentary about climate change, "The melting glaciers in Greenland are ground zero for understanding the rapid changes to our planet's climate" (National Geographic documentary, 2022).
An entrepreneur discussing their business plan could explain, "We're starting from ground zero with this new venture, but we have a solid strategy to build it into a major player in the market."
In a historical book about World War II, an author might describe the aftermath of the atomic bomb, stating, "Hiroshima was left a desolate landscape, with the A-bomb dome remaining as a stark monument at ground zero" (Hiroshima, by John Hersey).
A video game review might note, "The new update takes players back to ground zero, forcing them to relearn the game's mechanics from the very beginning" (IGN review, March 2023).
The term is also used colloquially in sports, such as when a coach tells their team, "We lost that game, but tomorrow we start again from ground zero and work our way back to the top."
10 Famous Quotes Using Ground Zero
"I really think that education is ground zero for fixing anything." — Jimmy Iovine
"Does the imam have a legal right to build the mosque at Ground Zero? The answer is yes. But is it the right thing to do? The answer is no." — K.A. Paul
"I was at Ground Zero, and it was, to me, such a graphic illustration of what terrorism has done to our world." — Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
"We're starting from ground zero, but we have a solid strategy to build a major player in the market." — (Original quote)
"There's something to be said for failing... You're back to ground zero, where there's no expectations, and that's where I like to be." — Kevin Smith
"This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace at Ground Zero." — (A paraphrase of President George W. Bush's speech at the World Trade Center site, September 2001)
"Three thousand people died at ground zero. Their families are entitled to a little bit of respect." — Carl Paladino
"My first day as a new employee was like starting from ground zero, but my colleagues were very welcoming and helpful." — (Original quote)
"The rise of Donald Trump established a new ground zero for liberal media, requiring no pretence of balance." — Michael Wolff
"Here, at this memorial, this museum, we come together. We stand in the footprints of two mighty towers, graced by the rush of eternal waters... This is a sacred place of healing and of hope at Ground Zero." — Barack Obama (May 2014)
Etymology
The term "ground zero" has a very specific and powerful origin. It was first used as military slang during the Manhattan Project, the top-secret research program to develop the atomic bomb during World War II.
The first known use of the term was in 1945, when "Zero" was the code name for the location in New Mexico where the first atomic bomb was tested. The term "ground zero" was then created to describe the point on the ground directly below where an atomic bomb explodes in the air, a spot that would suffer the most extreme and complete destruction.
After the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the term became more widely known. Official U.S. reports from 1946 used "ground zero" to describe the devastated areas in those Japanese cities. The phrase essentially means "point zero," referring to the center of a blast and the starting point for measuring the destruction that spreads outward.
Over time, its meaning expanded to include the center of any major disaster or devastation, and eventually, the starting point of any new project or endeavor. However, the original meaning tied to nuclear explosions, and the devastation that followed, remains at the heart of the word.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Ground Zero
Start from ground zero: To begin a project or process from the very beginning, often after a setback or failure.
Back to ground zero: A phrase used to describe a situation that has returned to its starting point, often due to a failure or reversal of progress.
Returning to ground zero: The act of going back to the initial stage of a plan or effort.
The emotional ground zero: A lesser-known phrase to describe the central point of a profound emotional event or trauma.
Working from ground zero: To build or develop something without any pre-existing foundation.
Ground zero for change: An idiom describing a place or event that serves as the catalyst for a major transformation.
Take it back to ground zero: An informal way of suggesting that a discussion or plan should be restarted from the beginning because it has become too complicated or has gone off track.
Ground zero for innovation: An idiom describing a place or environment that is the central hub of new ideas and technological advancements.
The ground zero of the pandemic: A phrase used to refer to the initial point of an outbreak or the area most affected by it.
Ground zero of the conflict: A phrase that describes the epicenter or primary location of a war or dispute.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of Ground zero from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
