What is ground? Pronunciation and usage in English

ground means . Learn how to pronounce and use ground through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of ground

groundnoun

/ɡraʊnd/
Definition & pronunciation of ground

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "ground" in English. It can be tricky because it's one of those words that doesn't always follow the typical English pronunciation rules.

Here's the most common and widely accepted pronunciation, broken down:

1. The Basic Pronunciation (Most Common):

  • ɡraʊnd (rhymes with "cow")

    • ɡ: This is a "g" sound like in "go." It's a hard "g" - don't let it sound like the "g" in "gate."
    • raʊ: This is the trickiest part! It's pronounced like "row," but with a short "o" sound (like in "hot"). It’s a diphthong – meaning it’s a combination of two vowel sounds blending together.
    • nd: This is pronounced like the "nd" in "hand."

2. A Slightly More Formal/Historical Pronunciation (Less Common now):

  • ɡraʊnd (rhymes with "around")

    • This pronunciation was more prevalent in older British English and is still sometimes heard. The "row" portion would be pronounced closer to "around."

Resources to Help You Hear It:

Tips for Getting It Right:

  • Focus on the "row" sound: That’s the biggest hurdle for many learners. Practice saying “row” repeatedly.
  • Short "o" sound: Make sure it’s a short "o" like in "hot," not a long "o" like in "boat."
  • Listen and Repeat: The best way to learn is to hear it said correctly and then try to imitate the sound yourself.

To help me tailor the explanation even further, would you like me to:

  • Focus on a specific aspect of the pronunciation (e.g., just the “row” sound)?
  • Compare the pronunciation in American vs. British English (there can be subtle differences)?

Usage and examples with the word ground in English

Let's break down how to use the word "ground" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings! Here's a breakdown categorized by usage:

1. Physical Ground (Most Literal)

  • Definition: The surface of the Earth; the soil, dirt, or land beneath your feet.
  • Examples:
    • "He walked across the ground."
    • "The plant needs fertile ground to grow."
    • “The hikers were careful to stay on the ground.”

2. Foundation/Base (Figurative)

  • Definition: A firm base, often suggesting stability or support.
  • Examples:
    • "The building is built on solid ground." (meaning a strong foundation)
    • "He’s standing on very strong ground with that argument." (meaning a well-supported position)
    • "We need to establish a solid ground for our business plan."

3. Electricity - Grounding

  • Definition: A connection to the Earth to prevent electrical shock. Used in electronics and electrical systems.
  • Examples:
    • “Make sure the appliance is properly grounded.”
    • "The ground wire is crucial for safety."
    • "The electrical panel is connected to the ground."

4. To Level/Even Out (Verb)

  • Definition: To make something even or flat; to level.
  • Examples:
    • "The construction crew ground the uneven ground to create a level surface."
    • "He ground the meat into a fine paste." (This often involves a meat grinder)

5. To Grind (Verb)

  • Definition: To rub or crush something into small pieces.
  • Examples:
    • "She ground the spices together to release their aroma."
    • "The mill grounds wheat into flour."
    • “He ground his teeth during the stressful meeting.”

6. To Bring Down / Force to Surrender (Figurative - Often Military Context)

  • Definition: To force someone to stop fighting or to surrender. This is a more formal, often historical, usage.
  • Examples:
    • "The troops ground the enemy forces." (meaning defeated them)
    • "The general’s strategy was to ground the opposition."

7. "Get Grounded" (Informal - Usually for Children)

  • Definition: To be punished, typically by being kept at home.
  • Example: “The teacher grounded him for misbehaving.”

8. "Grounding" (Psychological - Increasingly Common)

  • Definition: In psychology, “grounding” refers to techniques used to help someone feel present and connected to the here and now, often used to manage anxiety or dissociation.
  • Examples:
    • “He used grounding techniques to calm down during a panic attack.”
    • “Deep breathing exercises can be a helpful grounding method.”

Here's a table summarizing the different meanings:

Meaning Part of Speech Example
Surface of the Earth Noun “The birds landed on the ground.”
Foundation/Base Noun “His argument was based on solid ground.”
Electrical Connection Noun “The appliance needs to be grounded.”
To Level Verb “They ground the yard to prepare for planting.”
To Grind Verb “She ground the coffee beans.”
To Bring Down Verb “The army ground the rebels.”
Punishment Verb “He was grounded for a week.”
Psychological Technique Noun “She used grounding to feel more present.”

To help me give you even more specific advice, could you tell me:

  • What context are you trying to use "ground" in? (e.g., writing a story, a conversation, describing a place, etc.)

Synonyms for the word ground

Idioms of the word ground

be on firm/solid ground
to be in a strong position in an argument, etc. because you know the facts
  • Everyone agreed with me, so I knew I was on firm ground.
  • He is probably on solid ground when he says we need more training.
break ground
to start digging for a new building project
  • They broke ground for the new highway this month.
British and North American Englishto make a new discovery or do something that has not been done before
  • Her architectural designs have broken new ground.
  • She broke ground by being the first Black woman to win the award.
break new ground
to make a new discovery or do something that has not been done before
  • Her architectural designs have broken new ground.
cut the ground from under somebody’s feet
to suddenly cause somebody’s idea or plan to fail by doing something to stop them from continuing with it
    fall on stony ground
    to fail to produce the result or the effect that you hope for; to have little success
    • His charming smile fell on stony ground with her.
    • The peace initiatives have already fallen on stony ground.
    from the ground up
    (informal)completely, or including everything, starting with the most basic things
    • We need to rebuild the system from the ground up.
    • He learned about the business from the ground up.
    gain ground
    to become more powerful or successful
    • Sterling continues to gain ground against the dollar.
    gain/make up ground (on somebody/something)
    to gradually get closer to somebody/something that is moving or making progress in an activity
    • The police car was gaining ground on the suspects.
    • They needed to make up ground on their competitors.
    get (something) off the ground
    to start happening successfully; to make something start happening successfully
    • Without more money, the movie is unlikely to get off the ground.
    • to get a new company off the ground
    • His plan is too costly to ever get off the ground.
    give/lose ground (to somebody/something)
    to allow somebody/something to have an advantage; to lose an advantage for yourself
    • They are not prepared to give ground on tax cuts.
    • The Conservatives lost a lot of ground to the Liberal Democrats at the election.
    go to ground
    (British English)to hide, especially to escape from somebody
      have/keep your feet on the ground
      to have a sensible and realistic attitude to life
      • In spite of his overnight stardom he still manages to keep his feet on the ground.
      hit the ground running
      (informal)to start doing something and continue very quickly and successfully
        hold/stand your ground
        to continue with your opinions or intentions when somebody is opposing you and wants you to change
        • Don't let him persuade you—stand your ground.
        • She held her ground in the debate.
        to face a situation and refuse to run away
        • It is not easy to hold your ground in front of someone with a gun.
        keep/have your ear to the ground
        to make sure that you always find out about the most recent developments in a particular situation
        • The agent had no suitable properties on his books but promised to keep an ear to the ground for us.
        on the ground
        in the place where something is happening and among the people who are in the situation, especially a war
        • On the ground, there are hopes that the fighting will soon stop.
        • There's a lot of support for the policy on the ground.
        on neutral ground/territory
        in a place that has no connection with either of the people or sides who are meeting and so does not give an advantage to either of them
        • We decided to meet on neutral ground.
        on somebody's own ground
        in an area where somebody has a lot of power, knowledge or experience
        • They are fighting the Conservatives on their own ground.
        • When it comes to music I'm on my own ground.
        prepare the ground (for something)
        to make it possible or easier for something to be achieved
        • The committee will prepare the ground for next month's meeting.
        • Early experiments with rockets prepared the ground for space travel.
        run somebody/something into the ground
        to make somebody work so hard that they are no longer able to work; to use something so much that it is broken
          run/drive/work yourself into the ground
          to work so hard that you become extremely tired
            shift your ground
            (usually disapproving)to change your opinion about a subject, especially during a discussion
            • Each time he seemed to be losing the argument, he just shifted his ground.
            suit somebody down to the ground
            (British English, informal)to be very convenient or acceptable for somebody
            • This job suits me down to the ground.
            • Country life suits me down to the ground!
            take, claim, seize, etc. the moral high ground
            to claim that your side of an argument is morally better than your opponents’ side; to argue in a way that makes your side seem morally better
            • I was angry with his blatant attempt to take the moral high ground.
            thick/thin on the ground
            (British English)if people or things are thick/thin on the ground, there are a lot/not many of them in a place
            • Customers are thin on the ground at this time of year.
            • Security officers were thick on the ground during the King’s visit.
            to the ground
            completely, so that there is nothing left
            • The hotel burned to the ground.
            • The city was razed to the ground (= completely destroyed).

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