ground
the solid part of the earth's surface
How often you will meet it
Rank 417 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 48,032 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.023% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- the solid part of the earth's surface also: land, dry land, earth, solid ground, terra firma the plane turned away from the sea and moved back over landthe earth shook for several minutes
- a rational motive for a belief or action also: reason the reason that war was declaredthe grounds for their declaration
- the loose soft material that makes up a large part of the land surface also: earth they dug into the earth outside the church
- a relation that provides the foundation for something also: footing, basis they were on a friendly footinghe worked on an interim basis
- a position to be won or defended in battle (or as if in battle) they gained ground step by stepthey fought to regain the lost ground
- the part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground also: background he posed her against a background of rolling hills
ground in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
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The heavy butt of a Winchester rifle descended on my head and I fell to the ground.
The Red Record Tabulated Statistics · Ida B. Wells-Barnett · Chapter 1
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Among the points discussed will be, whether it is allowable to pop the question on the croquet ground.
Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 08, May 21, 1870 · Various · Chapter 1
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Then dropping the food in his hand back to the ground, he noiselessly melted into the bushes again.
The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1
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But even under these circumstances he still gained ground, when suddenly the whole aspect of the battle was changed.
A Knight of the White Cross · G. A. (George Alfred) Henty · Chapter 1