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

Ground floor trading units and the Harris Library remain open inside the building.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2023

Ground floor is the living area; two bedrooms, one bath on the second; and an open loft on top with a private bathroom.

From Slate • Aug. 26, 2021

Ground floor is not quite the word for it.

From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2017

Tom Crept Slowly to the Platform "Ground floor," announced Tom at last.

From Tom Swift and His Giant Telescope by Gary, James

I have now had the following rooms locked up and the keys taken away by the butler:— Ground floor: All the wing and drawing-room.

From The Alleged Haunting of B—— House by Goodrich-Freer, A.