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

Germany has long been among Israel's staunchest allies, something Berlin has grounded in the country's responsibility for the Holocaust.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

But Cato is generally reasonable, and grounded in facts.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

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

There were a lot of conversations on set about how to ensure that Mary felt like an everyday hero and remained grounded.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Now that I’m grounded from roaming the property, I spend a lot of time playing card games with Sam on our patio.

From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez

Related Words

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