📒 the solid surface of the earth
- on the ground I found her lying on the ground.
- to the ground He fell to the ground, crying out in pain.
- above (the) ground The adult insects live above ground.
📒 used to describe activities that take place on the ground, not in the air or at sea
- Ground forces were deployed in the area.
- the deployment of ground troops
- a ground and air attack
📒 an area of open land
- The kids were playing on waste ground behind the school.
- We found a patch of open ground in the middle of the woods.
- There was a small patch of ground at the side of the cottage.
📒 an area of land that is used for a particular purpose, activity or sport
- a football/cricket ground
- The atmosphere inside the ground was electric.
- agricultural land
📒 a large area of land or sea that is used for a particular purpose
- fishing grounds
- feeding grounds for birds
📒 soil on the surface of the earth
- fertile ground for planting crops
- Prepare the ground before you plant anything.
- in/into the ground You can sow the seeds directly into the ground.
📒 the land or gardens around a large building
- the hospital grounds
- We had a guided tour of the house and grounds.
- The house has extensive grounds.
📒 an area of interest, knowledge or ideas
- He managed to cover a lot of ground in a short talk.
- We had to go over the same ground (= talk about the same things again) in class the next day.
- on… ground I thought I was on safe ground (= not likely to offend or upset somebody) talking about music.
📒 a good or true reason for saying, doing or believing something
- ground(s) for something You have no grounds for complaint.
- ground(s) for doing something What were his grounds for wanting a divorce?
- ground(s) to do something There are reasonable grounds to believe that a crime has been committed.
📒 the small pieces of solid matter in a liquid that have fallen to the bottom
📒 a wire that connects an electric circuit with the ground and makes it safe
- Don't forget to connect the ground wire.
📒 a background that a design is painted or printed on
- pink roses on a white 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.
📒 to start digging for a new building project
- They broke ground for the new highway this month.
📒 to 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.
📒 to make a new discovery or do something that has not been done before
- Her architectural designs have broken new ground.
📒 to suddenly cause somebody’s idea or plan to fail by doing something to stop them from continuing with it
📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 to become more powerful or successful
- Sterling continues to gain ground against the dollar.
📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 to hide, especially to escape from somebody
📒 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.
📒 to start doing something and continue very quickly and successfully
📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 to make somebody work so hard that they are no longer able to work; to use something so much that it is broken
📒 to work so hard that you become extremely tired
📒 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.
📒 to be very convenient or acceptable for somebody
- This job suits me down to the ground.
- Country life suits me down to the 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.
📒 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.
📒 completely, so that there is nothing left
- The hotel burned to the ground.
- The city was razed to the ground (= completely destroyed).