ground level

noun

plural ground levels
1
a
: the level of the ground taken as a reference point
From ground level, the arrayed fields of feed corn and soybeans look … like sprint tracks or Olympic pools, replete with the angles and alleys of serious tennis.David Foster Wallace
These survey flights were conducted at 300 feet above ground level. During the return flight to Schefferville, the aircraft descended and flew over terrain at an altitude varying between 100 and 40 feet above ground level.Targeted New Service
compare sea level
b
: the story (see story entry 3 sense 1a) of a building with its floor aligned to ground level : ground floor sense 1
It was a two-story house with white siding on the ground levelNeil Sheehan
2
: the state of a physical system (as of an atomic nucleus or an atom) having the least energy of all the possible states : ground state

Examples of ground level in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Operational Land Imager (OLI) instrument on Landsat 8 can capture light in both visible and near-infrared bands, enabling it to reveal features and events on Earth's surface that would otherwise be difficult to see from ground level. Brett Tingley, Space.com, 13 Mar. 2026 This legal environment is ground level, stylish and sexy, weaving the personal stories of the main characters with propulsive defence and prosecution. John Hopewell, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026 Place the seedling in the hole so that the top of the root ball is slightly elevated above the surrounding ground level. Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026 Wood siding should start at least 6 inches above ground level. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ground level

Word History

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ground level was in 1787

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Cite this Entry

“Ground level.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ground%20level. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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