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

On the ground floor, next to their 4-year-old grandson’s toy cars, is a reception room with a wooden door.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

You never know when you’ll find yourself on the ground floor of a scandal, reading a story that will change history forever and result in the unthinkable.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

Five minutes past midnight, she hit "submit" on her story and headed downstairs to the ground floor.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

Ahead of the Lyon rally, some residents living near the march's planned route had barricaded the ground floor windows of their apartments, fearing unrest.

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

They lived on the top floor instead of the ground floor.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith