grounding
Americannoun
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knowledge of or instruction in the basic principles of a subject.
You'll need a thorough grounding in linguistics to understand the lecture.
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Aeronautics. the act of restricting an aircraft to the ground because of bad weather, the unsatisfactory condition of the aircraft, etc..
The grounding of the aircraft due to fog meant the passengers were stranded.
adjective
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giving or relating to a feeling of being mentally or emotionally balanced due to a peaceful, practical, or realistic outlook.
Her down-to-earth point of view made her a grounding presence in their lives.
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Electricity. being or relating to a conducting connection between an electric circuit or equipment and the earth or some other conducting body.
Check that all grounding wires are intact before beginning further repairs.
noun
Etymology
Origin of grounding
First recorded in 1640–50; ground 1 ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While religion provides answers, astronomy offers another way to search for them, grounding me like a kind of cosmic anchor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
It rolled across Gwanghwamun Square, lingering - heavy and deliberate - grounding the spectacle in something that felt far older.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026
What’s Next: Deutsche Bank research analysts wrote that if fuel prices remain elevated for the next several months, airlines will begin cutting off-peak flights and grounding less fuel-efficient aircraft.
From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026
Life has also provided grounding and a wider lens.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026
I was suddenly worried that they’d decided to totally remove all of my baking supplies from the house as part of my grounding.
From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
