grounded

American  

[groun-did] / ˈgraʊn dɪd /

adjective

1. mentally or emotionally balanced; having a peaceful, practical, or realistic outlook.

   His more grounded, common-sense view of the situation was a helpful counter to my flights of fancy.

   I love being around them, because they're really grounded.

2. Aeronautics. (of an aircraft) being brought or restricted to the ground because of bad weather, the unsatisfactory condition of the aircraft, etc.

   Grounded flights have cost airlines in excess of $2 billion this year alone.

3. Electricity. having a conducting connection between an electric circuit or equipment and the earth or some other conducting body.

   This equipment must be plugged into a grounded outlet.

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grounded British  

/ ˈɡraʊndɪd /

adjective

1. sensible and down-to-earth; having one's feet on the ground

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Other Word Forms

• groundedly
  adverb
• groundedness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of grounded

First recorded in 1955–60; ground ¹ ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

They want the insider scoop over these worlds that still capture our imaginations, propelling them into new and fantastical places while keeping us grounded in human creativity.

From Salon • May 6, 2026

Airbus engine problems resulted in temporarily grounded planes, and Spirit lost billions in just a few post-COVID years.

From Slate • May 5, 2026

As a naturalized immigrant, Campa-Najjar grounded his position in both personal experience and criticism of federal policy.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

So we’ve curated a handful of free wellness activities for the month of May to keep you stretched, sane and grounded.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

Mama: You do remember that you’re still very much grounded?

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

Related Words

• alive
• appreciative
• apprehensive
• attentive
• awake
• cognizant
• conscious
• familiar
• informed
• mindful
• receptive
• wise