earthbound

¹ American  

[urth-bound] / ˈɜrθˌbaʊnd /

Or earth-bound

adjective

1. firmly set in or attached to the earth.

2. limited to the earth or its surface.

3. having only earthly interests.

4. lacking in imagination or sophistication.

   earthbound prose.

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earthbound ² American  

[urth-bound] / ˈɜrθˌbaʊnd /

Or earth-bound

adjective

1. headed for the earth.

   an earthbound meteorite.

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earthbound British  

/ ˈɜːθˌbaʊnd /

adjective

1. confined to the earth

2. lacking in imagination; pedestrian or dull

3. moving or heading towards the earth

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Etymology

Origin of earthbound¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; earth + -bound ¹

Origin of earthbound²

First recorded in 1930–35; earth + -bound ²

Example Sentences

For now, the company’s data center ambitions are earthbound, and operating them is very resource-intensive.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

“The Rainseekers” is a pleasant break from high-stakes sci-fi, and is ultimately something earthbound and relatable: a story about pilgrims on a journey, hoping to see a miracle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

As ever, everything is tethered to what our earthbound brains can imagine.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2025

Evolution had usually been thought of in reference to earthbound processes.

From Slate • Oct. 21, 2024

A brownish-green earth dragon roared from within a dark cave, and a white air dragon cut graceful spirals above its earthbound cousin.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• dreary
• humdrum
• lackluster
• mundane