as in center
a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest
a city that was once ground zero for the insurance industry
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ground zero
Silicon Valley makes California ground zero for the AI regulation debate: US Republicans have proposed banning states from regulating the technology for 10 years.
—
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 18 June 2025
The Great Recession made Rockford ground zero for underwater mortgages, draining wealth from a city that could ill afford it.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
Next season’s Eastern Conference will be ground zero of the NBA’s parity gambit, molded into the shape of competition the league set in motion over the past half-decade.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Kansas City isn’t exactly ground zero for Oklahoma City Thunder fandom, but the NBA team does have support in the area.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ground zero
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 18 June 2025
The Great Recession made Rockford ground zero for underwater mortgages, draining wealth from a city that could ill afford it.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
Next season’s Eastern Conference will be ground zero of the NBA’s parity gambit, molded into the shape of competition the league set in motion over the past half-decade.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Kansas City isn’t exactly ground zero for Oklahoma City Thunder fandom, but the NBA team does have support in the area.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ground zero
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ground zero
Noun
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It’s fed by a pair of light rail stations just minutes from the center of town and comes preinstalled with concessions and restrooms and much of the other infrastructure that normally has to be brought in for a temporary circuit, with hotels literally walking distance.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
31 July 2025
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The most successful brands will be those that put relationships—not just products or promotions—at the center of the customer journey.—
Zornitza Stefanova,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
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The Consequential Consensus Whether prophetic or destined for technology's unfulfilled promises museum, the San Francisco Consensus is already redirecting capital flows and strategic priorities.—
Arafat Kabir,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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In 1943: Allied forces, led by U.S. Gen. George S. Patton, successfully captured Palermo, the regional capital of Sicily and a strategic nexus for the Allied invasion of mainland Italy during World War II.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
23 July 2025
Noun
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And true to that mission, the stall has become a community hub, a place for conversation and for people to reconnect with books and literature.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
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For many years, Puerto Rico served as a hub of pharmaceutical manufacturing for the United States.—
Thomas J. Bollyky,
Foreign Affairs,
22 July 2025
Noun
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For the past few years, Lilly has made news by driving large-scale investments in the LEAP Innovation District, billed as a future manufacturing and tech mecca in Lebanon, Indiana.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
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As Almeyda makes her journey towards this elusive mecca, both the idea of Palmares and Almeyda’s journey toward it feel like hallucinatory visions: Vibrantly conjured, indeed mythic in intention and impact.—
Irenosen Okojie
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
Noun
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The collection combines Wrangler’s denim and cowboy roots with State’s focus on functional design.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
22 July 2025
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Transitioning to the analysis phase, the focus shifts to evaluating your processes and IT landscape to identify areas for rationalization or optimization.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Noun
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Haines Junction is the commercial heart of the park, home to a visitor center, and the base for many outfitters and lodges offering fishing, hiking and flight-seeing trips in and around Kluane.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 July 2025
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The vault at the base in Fort Knox holds about half of the country's gold, according to the U.S. Mint.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
28 July 2025
Noun
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McLaurin would instantly become Allen's top target and perfectly augment the versatile Khalil Shakir and developing Keon Coleman to form the nucleus of a passing attack that has potential rate among the best in the league.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
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In mid-March, while still in Gonzales with what would become the nucleus of the San Jacinto army, Sam Houston concluded that a retreat into deep East Texas provided his best chance of success.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Noun
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We’d be better served, however, by understanding that at the core, both of these are fueled by and lead to dehumanization.—
Virgie Tovar,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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Head to Gatineau Park for canoeing, hiking, or zip lining through the treetops—only a short drive from the city core.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Travel + Leisure,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ground zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ground%20zero. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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