ground zero

noun

1
: the point directly above, below, or at which a nuclear explosion occurs
2
: the center or origin of rapid, intense, or violent activity or change
broadly : center sense 2a
the party town that served as ground zero for those corporate … bashes Rich Eisen
3
: the very beginning : square one

Examples of ground zero in a Sentence

ground zero in the battle over immigration laws a city that was once ground zero for the insurance industry
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Higher education | School shooters California Democrats open special session to Trump-proof state priorities DACA recipients worry their protection from deportation won’t last another Trump term A California federal court was ground zero for hashing out Trump’s border policies. Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2024 As the news headlines show, Greenland’s ice sheet is ground zero of earth’s shifting climate. Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 21 Nov. 2024 Meanwhile, maritime crews put themselves in harm’s way over and over, pointing their bows back toward ground zero to pick up still more passengers desperate to escape Manhattan Island. Jessica Dulong, CNN, 11 Sep. 2024 One affable engineer recalls being summoned to ground zero on a Sunday. Karl Vick, TIME, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ground zero 

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ground zero was in 1946

Dictionary Entries Near ground zero

Cite this Entry

“Ground zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ground%20zero. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

ground zero

noun
1
: the site of a nuclear explosion
2
: the center of rapid, intense, or violent activity or change
3
: the very beginning : square one

More from Merriam-Webster on ground zero

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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