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
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
Martín Wall’s ranch had become ground zero for Operation Lone Star.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Los Angeles was ground zero for art fairs last week—from Frieze Los Angeles to Anti-Frieze, a performance festival staged in collaboration with the CalArts REEF Residency.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Here, the film suggests, became ground zero for the lifelong loneliness Perry seemingly experienced, which may have led to his long and well-publicized battles with drugs and alcohol that ultimately led to his death in October 2023.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2025
Waukegan is ground zero because ambulances approach from numerous towns to get to Vista Medical Center East.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ground zero
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Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Los Angeles was ground zero for art fairs last week—from Frieze Los Angeles to Anti-Frieze, a performance festival staged in collaboration with the CalArts REEF Residency.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Here, the film suggests, became ground zero for the lifelong loneliness Perry seemingly experienced, which may have led to his long and well-publicized battles with drugs and alcohol that ultimately led to his death in October 2023.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2025
Waukegan is ground zero because ambulances approach from numerous towns to get to Vista Medical Center East.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ground zero
Cite this Entry
“Ground zero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ground%20zero. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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