grounding
Americannoun
-
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.
President Ferdinand Marcos also said that grounding planes due to a shortage of fuel is a "distinct possibility" after some of the country's airlines were told that they cannot refuel their jets abroad.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
Alloway praises the Philadelphia-born Pedretti for nailing Cherry’s comedic moments yet also grounding the character in a traumatic backstory — a balancing act the director knew she was capable of after watching “Hill House.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
She has chronicled the major U.S. airlines since 2018, most recently focusing on how they've navigated major crises such as the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX and the global coronavirus pandemic.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026
Singh did not rule out the possibility of grounding part of his fleet if oil prices continue to soar.
From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026
These were the obligatory so-called Studienreisen, or study tours, their goal being the students’ acquisition of the necessary grounding in “the modern developments in Physics” that was simply unattainable in the United States.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
