earthbound

¹ American  

[urth-bound] / ˈɜrθˌbaʊnd /

Or earth-bound

adjective

1. firmly set in or attached to the earth.

2. limited to the earth or its surface.

3. having only earthly interests.

4. lacking in imagination or sophistication.

   earthbound prose.

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earthbound ² American  

[urth-bound] / ˈɜrθˌbaʊnd /

Or earth-bound

adjective

1. headed for the earth.

   an earthbound meteorite.

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earthbound British  

/ ˈɜːθˌbaʊnd /

adjective

1. confined to the earth

2. lacking in imagination; pedestrian or dull

3. moving or heading towards the earth

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Etymology

Origin of earthbound¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; earth + -bound ¹

Origin of earthbound²

First recorded in 1930–35; earth + -bound ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

earthbound

For now, the company’s data center ambitions are earthbound, and operating them is very resource-intensive.

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

His moves and fakes, practice-perfected and charmingly earthbound, make him a mesmerizing threat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026

Aliens may have embraced Elio, but earthbound audiences did not, marking the lowest opening weekend ever for a Pixar film and highlighting the challenges for original animated movies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2025

Evolution had usually been thought of in reference to earthbound processes.

From Slate ● Oct. 21, 2024

The way they transformed into such airy, weightless beings while dancing, when offstage they were all earthbound muscle and sweaty concentration!

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• dreary
• humdrum
• lackluster
• mundane