floor

1 of 3

noun

ˈflȯr 

plural floors

often attributive

1

: the level base of a room

2

a

: the lower inside surface of a hollow structure (such as a cave or bodily part)

b

: a ground surface

the ocean floor

3

a

: a structure dividing a building into stories

also : story

b

: the occupants of such a floor

The fourth floor held a get-together.

4

: the surface of a structure on which one travels

the floor of a bridge

5

: a large indoor space where a particular activity takes place

the factory floor

a dance floor

: as

a

: a main level space (as in a stock exchange or legislative chamber) distinguished from a platform or gallery

b

: the specially prepared or marked area on which indoor sports events take place

6

a

: the members of an assembly

took questions from the floor

b

: the right to address an assembly

The senator from Utah has the floor.

The lawmaker held the floor [=exercised the right to address the assembly] for several hours.

7

: a lower limit : base

see also:

from the floor take the floor

floor

2 of 3

verb

floored; flooring; floors

transitive verb

1

: to cover with a floor or flooring

2

a

: to knock or bring down

b

: flabbergast, dumbfound

3

: to press (the accelerator of a vehicle) to the floorboard

also : to accelerate rapidly

floored the van

floorer noun

hold the floor

3 of 3

phrase

: to be the person who is speaking at a public meeting

The senator held the floor for several hours.

Synonyms of floor

Noun

• bottom
• bed

Verb

• shock
• appall
• stun

Examples of floor in a Sentence

Noun

Keep your feet on the floor.

the floor of a car

She lives on the second floor of a five-story building.

His office is located on the fourth floor.

Verb

He floored me with his first punch.

The news just floored me.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Shahnaaz Dalal, no relation to Sanaya Dalal, lives on the ground floor of a quaint, heritage-style cottage, with her Parsi husband, Rohinton, in-laws and two daughters in another Parsi enclave in northern Mumbai. —Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 21 June 2026

Max Funland, a new second-floor arcade on Broadway, opened five hours early for two small groups that had paid to reserve seats alongside its parade-facing windows. —Dan Greene, New Yorker, 20 June 2026

Verb

West Shore also does bathroom remodels, flooring installation and doors. —Alora Bopray, USA Today, 17 June 2026

Neel Bradham is a flooring specialist and CEO of Parador flooring company. —Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English flor, from Old English flōr; akin to Old High German fluor meadow, Latin planus level, and perhaps to Greek planasthai to wander

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing floor

• dance floor
• dirt floor
• first floor
• floor exercise
• floor lamp
• floor leader
• floor-length
• floor manager
• floor plan
• floor show
• floor-through
• forest floor
• from the floor
• get in on the ground floor
• ground floor
• have the floor
• hold the floor
• in on the ground floor
• on the cutting-room floor
• on the factory floor
• sea floor
• second floor
• shop floor
• take the floor
• the factory floor
• through the floor
• wipe the floor with

Rhymes for floor

• boar
• boer
• bore
• chore
• cor
• core
• corps
• crore
• door
• drawer
• flor
• for

Kids Definition

floor

1 of 2 noun

ˈflō(ə)r 

ˈflȯ(ə)r

1

: the part of a room on which one stands

2

a

: the lower inside surface of a hollow structure

the floor of a car

b

: a ground surface

the ocean floor

3

: a story of a building

lives on the second floor

floor

2 of 2 verb

1

: to cover with a floor or flooring

2

a

: to knock to the floor

b

: shock entry 3 sense 1, overwhelm

Medical Definition

floor

noun

ˈflō(ə)r, ˈflȯ(ə)r 

: the lower inside surface of a hollow anatomical structure

the floor of the pelvis

Legal Definition

floor

noun

1

a

: a main level space (as in a stock exchange or legislative chamber) distinguished from a platform or gallery

b

: members of an assembly

took questions from the floor

c

: the right to address an assembly

the senator from Utah has the floor

2

: a lower limit

a five percent floor on deductions for medical expenses