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• rock bottom
  rock bottom

  noun

  the very lowest level.
• rock-bottom
  rock-bottom

  adjective

  at the lowest possible limit or level; extremely low.

rock bottom

¹ American  

noun

1. the very lowest level.

   He went bankrupt and touched rock bottom.

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rock-bottom ² American  

[rok-bot-uhm] / ˈrɒkˈbɒt əm /

adjective

1. at the lowest possible limit or level; extremely low.

   rock-bottom prices.

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rock bottom British  

noun

1. 1. the lowest possible level

   2. ( as modifier )

      rock-bottom prices

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rock bottom Idioms  

1. The lowest possible level, absolute bottom, as in Wheat prices have reached rock bottom. This idiom alludes to the presence of bedrock that prevents digging farther down. [Late 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of rock bottom¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Origin of rock-bottom²

First recorded in 1880–85

Explanation

Use the adjective rock-bottom to describe something that can't be any lower, especially a price. If a store is selling TVs at rock-bottom prices, you probably can't find one any cheaper. You'll almost always find this word describing the low price tag of something that's on sale or that has a very low cost. The rock-bottom prices for books can usually be found online or in a used book store or yard sale, rather than at a new book store. And you'll get rock-bottom prices on groceries if you clip coupons and buy store brands. Rock-bottom was coined sometime in the late nineteenth century.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rock bottom rock-bottom

For debt watchdogs, the U.S. hit rock bottom around 2020 and 2021, according Goldwein.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 20, 2026

Frankie Muniz had a vulnerable moment on social media Friday, revealing he’s hit rock bottom following the announcement of his split from wife Paige Price.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

I came across Finch—a popular mobile app for self-care and habit tracking—the way I imagine most of their user base does: at rock bottom, doomscrolling until I was hit with one of their ads.

From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026

They will feel the only way is up because they were at rock bottom here.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

When your family’s one missed check away from rock bottom?

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

But a disappointing 1-1 draw, with the Rams scoring a stoppage-time leveller, left Burnley rock-bottom going into the break.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026

His impeachment defense team said Paxton made a prudent shift toward real estate at a time of rock-bottom interest rates.

From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026

The levy follows legislation passed by the French parliament in June to regulate so-called "ultra-fast fashion" companies, known for selling large volumes of lower quality clothing at rock-bottom prices.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

It is a position the iPhone-maker hasn’t found itself in since Cook harnessed the company’s purchasing power to squeeze rock-bottom costs from suppliers and shift expensive assets from Apple’s balance sheet to theirs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Three days later, Seabiscuit was put up for sale, placed in a rock-bottom claiming race for a tag of just $2,500.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

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