ground floor

American  

noun

1. the floor of a building at or nearest to ground level.

2. Informal. an advantageous position or opportunity in a business matter, especially in a new enterprise.

   She took the job in the new company because she wanted to get in on the ground floor.

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ground floor British  

noun

1. the floor of a building level or almost level with the ground

2. informal

   1. to enter a business, organization, etc, at the lowest level

   2. to be in a project, undertaking, etc, from its inception

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Etymology

Origin of ground floor

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

Blackwood Homes and Care declared a major incident at MacLehose Court this week after water began running into the building's ground floor flats.

From BBC

It’s easy to see why investors would now want to get in near the ground floor of other stocks whose transformational potential could deliver big gains over the long run.

From MarketWatch

“I feel like I’m at the ground floor of something huge,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

The women immediately took the lift and reached the ground floor.

From BBC

He felt the need to spend at least $50,000 making their ground floor more suitable for him as his illness progressed.

From MarketWatch