1
a
: the underside of something
at the bottom of the box
a cut on the bottom of her foot
The vase is signed on the bottom.
b
: a surface (such as the seat of a chair) designed to support something resting on it
—used figuratively in phrases like the bottom dropped out to describe a sudden collapse or downturn
lost millions when the bottom dropped out of the stock market
2
: the surface on which a body of water lies
sank to the bottom of the ocean
3
4
a
: the lowest part or place
the bottom of the page
stood at the bottom of the stairs
b
: the remotest or inmost point
sail to the bottom of the bay
c
: the lowest or last place in rank or position
The CEO started at the bottom and worked her way up.
graduated at the bottom of the class
the bottom of the pay scale
d
clothing
: the part of a garment worn on the lower part of the body
white tops and navy blue bottoms
a bikini bottom
especially
: the pants of pajamas
—usually used in plural
e
baseball
: the last half of an inning
the bottom of the ninth
f
music
: the bass or baritone instruments of a band
5
geography
: bottomland
—usually used in plural
the Mississippi river bottoms
7
: capacity (as of a horse) to endure strain
a breed of dogs outstanding for bottom
8
textiles
: a foundation color applied to fibers before dyeing
9
physics
: a fundamental quark that accounts for the existence and lifetime of upsilon particles and has an electric charge of −¹/₃ and a measured energy of approximately 5 GeV
also
: the flavor (see flavor entry 1 sense 4b) characterizing this particle
bottomed; bottoming; bottoms
1
: to furnish (something, such as a chair) with a bottom
2
: to provide a foundation for
men who wanted to bottom the dreams of the Romantics—
Bonamy Dobrée
Bonamy Dobrée3
: to bring to the bottom
bottomed the submarine on the ocean floor
4
: to find the basis or source of (something, such as a rumor) : to get to the bottom (see bottom entry 1 sense 6) of
The mystery hasn't been bottomed.
1
: to become based or grounded
find on what foundation any proposition bottoms—John Locke
John Locke2
: to reach the bottom
bottoming on the sea floor
3
: to reach a point where a decline is halted or reversed
—usually used with out
The team bottomed out in last place.
bottomer
noun
1
: of, relating to, or situated at the bottom (see bottom entry 1)
bottom rock
2
: frequenting the lowest part or place : frequenting the bottom
bottom fish
Synonyms
Examples of bottom in a Sentence
Noun
We sailed to the bottom of the bay.
the bottom of the garden
The poor baby has a rash all over his little bottom.
The company's new CEO started at the bottom and worked her way up.
Why do I always find myself rooting for the team at the bottom of the league?
at the bottom of the pay scale
Adjective
the bottom rung of the ladder
Somebody's fingerprints are all along the bottom edge of the photograph.
Recent Examples on the WebMarianne Williams, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2024
Actors received full wet suit: shortie wet suit, tops, bottoms and booties.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 2 Apr. 2024
After the lakebed dries out, contractors will be able to move the silt at the bottom.
—Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2024
The design in question featured what looked like a globe at the top and bottom being cinched in the middle by the Pepsi wrapper.
—Kimberly Nordyke, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Mar. 2024
Here's how much snow has fallen in 2024 so far
Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon National Park
Unlike other historic places to stay at the national park, Phantom Ranch is nestled at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
—The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024
The fear of no longer being able to play Serie A soccer next year has also heightened competition at the bottom of the table, where multiple clubs are looking to scramble out of the dangerous relegation zone.
—Daniele Proch, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The table also has an open shelf at the bottom for showing off books and decor.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
The wide elastic bottom band and wider straps wore flat underneath clothing.
—Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024
Wes Moss, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
After bottoming at $3.07 a gallon in mid-January, the national average climbed to $3.40 a gallon on Friday, according to AAA.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024
Temperatures are likely to rapidly fall through the 50s into the 40s during the evening, perhaps dropping about 25 degrees or more in a couple of hours, before bottoming in the upper 30s and low 40s overnight.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2023
Why gas prices rise as winter ends Gas prices bottomed at $3.07 a gallon nationally on January 15.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024
This positive development is supported by the weekly cycle which bottoms this week.
—Bill Sarubbi, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024
Meanwhile, housing economists at AEI Housing Center, Zillow, and CoreLogic believe U.S. home prices have bottomed.
—Lance Lambert, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2023
Low temperatures probably bottom in the teens for the entire region, with wind chills easily in the single digits.
—Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024
In Southern California, home prices bottomed in February.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024
The bottom 5 percent of schools will get intensive resources and help from the state to help improve their ranking and performance, according to the proposal.
—Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
The study compared and ranked the eight Great Lake states and found that Wisconsin fell in the bottom half compared to the other seven states.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
The front has mesh perforations to keep heat out, and the bottom band is nice and thick to keep pressure off of the rib cage.
—Hannah Singleton, Glamour, 3 Apr. 2024
When the fire-extinguishing work is done, to prevent mold and mildew, the plane’s bottom floor opens, allowing a full cleaning and drying out between baths.
—Christin Perry, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Another bearish trading signal is that momentum waned over the last month as the stock was making new highs (see bottom panel below).
—Michael Cannivet, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Last year was the state’s seventh year in the bottom 10 in the past half-century, ranking it No. 26 among the states for bad job markets.
—Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2024
The Warriors answered with three runs in the top of the second, but Terra Nova responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2024
Noun
Spray a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray; line bottom and sides of pan with parchment paper, and coat parchment paper with cooking spray.
—Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2024
Actors received full wet suit: shortie wet suit, tops, bottoms and booties.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 2 Apr. 2024
After the lakebed dries out, contractors will be able to move the silt at the bottom.
—Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2024
The design in question featured what looked like a globe at the top and bottom being cinched in the middle by the Pepsi wrapper.
—Kimberly Nordyke, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Mar. 2024
Here's how much snow has fallen in 2024 so far
Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon National Park
Unlike other historic places to stay at the national park, Phantom Ranch is nestled at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
—The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024
The fear of no longer being able to play Serie A soccer next year has also heightened competition at the bottom of the table, where multiple clubs are looking to scramble out of the dangerous relegation zone.
—Daniele Proch, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The table also has an open shelf at the bottom for showing off books and decor.
—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
The wide elastic bottom band and wider straps wore flat underneath clothing.
—Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024
Verb
About a week later, on March 23, the market bottomed, and the S&P 500 rose about 9.4% the day after.
—Wes Moss, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
After bottoming at $3.07 a gallon in mid-January, the national average climbed to $3.40 a gallon on Friday, according to AAA.
—Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024
Temperatures are likely to rapidly fall through the 50s into the 40s during the evening, perhaps dropping about 25 degrees or more in a couple of hours, before bottoming in the upper 30s and low 40s overnight.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2023
Why gas prices rise as winter ends Gas prices bottomed at $3.07 a gallon nationally on January 15.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024
This positive development is supported by the weekly cycle which bottoms this week.
—Bill Sarubbi, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024
Meanwhile, housing economists at AEI Housing Center, Zillow, and CoreLogic believe U.S. home prices have bottomed.
—Lance Lambert, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2023
Low temperatures probably bottom in the teens for the entire region, with wind chills easily in the single digits.
—Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024
In Southern California, home prices bottomed in February.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Adjective
There are a total of four stone fireplaces scattered throughout the property, including outside and in the private study room on the bottom floor.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024
The bottom 5 percent of schools will get intensive resources and help from the state to help improve their ranking and performance, according to the proposal.
—Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
The study compared and ranked the eight Great Lake states and found that Wisconsin fell in the bottom half compared to the other seven states.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
The front has mesh perforations to keep heat out, and the bottom band is nice and thick to keep pressure off of the rib cage.
—Hannah Singleton, Glamour, 3 Apr. 2024
When the fire-extinguishing work is done, to prevent mold and mildew, the plane’s bottom floor opens, allowing a full cleaning and drying out between baths.
—Christin Perry, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Another bearish trading signal is that momentum waned over the last month as the stock was making new highs (see bottom panel below).
—Michael Cannivet, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Last year was the state’s seventh year in the bottom 10 in the past half-century, ranking it No. 26 among the states for bad job markets.
—Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2024
The Warriors answered with three runs in the top of the second, but Terra Nova responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bottom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bottom
Cite this Entry
“Bottom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottom. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bottom
1 of 2 noun
bot·tom
ˈbät-əm 
1
2
: the surface on which a body of water lies
3
a
: the part of a ship's hull lying below the water
b
4
: the lowest part, place, or point
the bottom of the page
5
: the part of a garment worn on the lower part of the body
especially
: the trousers of pajamas
—usually used in plural
6
: lowland along a river
the Mississippi River bottoms
7
: the most basic or central part : heart
get to the bottom of the problem
8
: the last half of an inning of baseball
bottom
2 of 2 verb1
: to provide a foundation for
2
: to rest on, bring to, or reach the bottom
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