What does "grounded" mean?
simple past and past participle of ground
Grounded
/ˈɡɹaʊn.dɪd/ adj, verb
adj, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: simple past and past participle of ground
- Grammar: grounded is listed as adj, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: aground, anchored, beached, bonded to earth.
- Useful contrasts: adrift, aerophilic, afloat.
- Usage evidence: Maybe it's his age but his opinions seem a little more grounded in experience than everyone else's.
How to use "grounded"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "grounded" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "grounded" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "grounded" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "grounded" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "grounded" is acting as adj, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aground" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "grounded", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 simple past and past participle of ground form-of, participle, past
Adjective
- 1 Not allowed to fly.
- 2 Aground.
"Courageous went down about an hour ago. Glorious also went down toward the end of the battle, cause unknown. Lion is grounded in the shadows of Terschelling, and will not be recoverable. All of the other battlecruisers have medium to heavy damage of one degree or another, with the exception of Renown, which avoided shell damage but took a torpedo at the last moment and is heading home under tow, and, of course, New Zealand, whose sole casualty is a stoker overcome with heat exhaustion."
- 3 Of or pertaining to an electrical conductor which is connected to earth; earthed. Canada, US
- 4 Confined to stay inside, typically by a parent, as a punishment. predicative
""Sam, wait. You're not actually grounded. I just want you to be better about listening when I tell you something.""
- 5 With well-considered priorities through a good understanding of what truly matters.
"Near-synonyms: prudent, reasonable, sensible, wise; realistic, real; mature; see also Thesaurus:wise"
Antonyms
Example
"Maybe it's his age but his opinions seem a little more grounded in experience than everyone else's."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "grounded"?
Common synonyms include: aground, anchored, beached, bonded to earth, castaway, caught.
How do you use "grounded" in a sentence?
Maybe it's his age but his opinions seem a little more grounded in experience than everyone else's.
How do you pronounce "grounded"?
Pronounced /ˈɡɹaʊn.dɪd/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English grounded, i-grounded, equivalent to ground + -ed.
Etymology 2
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.