ground state
noun
: the state of a physical system (as of an atomic nucleus or an atom) having the least energy of all the possible states
called also ground level
Examples of ground state in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Among a handful of engineering hurdles involved in opening that window, the highest would be putting a heavy object into its ground state and sensing it jumping to its next-lowest-energy state.
—
Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024
Vance returns to Ohio after hitting the campaign trail on Saturday with Trump in Grand Rapids, Michigan, an important battle ground state.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 22 July 2024
Michigan is a battle ground state, among those that Democrats hope to win to secure the presidency.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 11 July 2024
When the atom interacts with, or measures, the particle, the entire system ends up in a superposition of the particle flashing and the atom absorbing this light and entering a higher energy state, and the particle not flashing and the atom remaining in its ground state.
—Anil Ananthaswamy, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for ground state
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.
Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024
Vance returns to Ohio after hitting the campaign trail on Saturday with Trump in Grand Rapids, Michigan, an important battle ground state.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 22 July 2024
Michigan is a battle ground state, among those that Democrats hope to win to secure the presidency.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 11 July 2024
When the atom interacts with, or measures, the particle, the entire system ends up in a superposition of the particle flashing and the atom absorbing this light and entering a higher energy state, and the particle not flashing and the atom remaining in its ground state.
—Anil Ananthaswamy, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for ground state
Cite this Entry
“Ground state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ground%20state. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share