1
: the part of a building that is wholly or partly below ground level
2
: the ground floor facade or interior in Renaissance architecture
3
: the lowest or fundamental part of something
specifically
: the rocks underlying stratified rocks
4
chiefly New England
: a toilet or washroom especially in a school
5
a
: a low state, rank, or condition
With their stock in the basement and red ink all over their balance sheet, many struggling [companies] are finding that fund-raising has become an exceedingly difficult proposition.—
Brad Stone
Brad Stone
b
: the lowest place in the standings : cellar sense 2
Last year, the Phillies finished in the basement of the NL East with 68 wins, tied with the Cubs for the fewest wins in the league.—Boston Herald
Boston HeraldExamples of basement in a Sentence
we store our bicycles in the basement during the winter
the basement of the outdoor fountain needs a lot of restoration work
Recent Examples on the Web
And although the space is two levels, all the fun initially will happen in the 150-capacity street-level bar — not downstairs in the basement.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 13 Feb. 2026
Fifty years ago, Highland Park native Jeff Perry was one of a group of young people who decided to start a theater company in the basement of a church in Highland Park.
—Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
But even if that New Year's resolution of clearing out the basement once and for all has been forgotten or abandoned by now, the year is still young.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
Avoid basements or rooms submerged in water with electrical outlets or cords.
—Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for basement
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Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 13 Feb. 2026
Fifty years ago, Highland Park native Jeff Perry was one of a group of young people who decided to start a theater company in the basement of a church in Highland Park.
—Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2026
But even if that New Year's resolution of clearing out the basement once and for all has been forgotten or abandoned by now, the year is still young.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
Avoid basements or rooms submerged in water with electrical outlets or cords.
—Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for basement
Cite this Entry
“Basement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basement. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
basement
noun
base·ment
ˈbās-mənt 
: the part of a building that is entirely or partly below ground level
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