WordGarden.iobottom
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /bˈɒtəm/
US
- /ˈbɑtəm/
Meanings
Noun
the lowest part, surface, or point of something
the buttocks
a lower-body garment or the lower part of a clothing set
More meaningsFewer meanings
(slang)a person who takes the receptive or submissive role in sex
the second half of an inning in baseball or softball
Adjective
lowest, last, or least important in position or rank
Verb
to reach the lowest level or point
Beyond the definition
"Bottom" is usually about the lowest position or level. You can think of the bottom of a glass, the bottom of a pool, or the sole of your foot. It can also refer to the last position in a sequence, like the bottom of the ninth inning in baseball, or the bottom line in finance. "Bottom" is often a polite way to name the part of the body you sit on, and people also use the phrase “get to the bottom of a mystery” to mean uncovering the real cause. As with many words, context tells you which meaning is active.
The word "bottom" has surprisingly many meanings, all connected to being lowest in position or order. Most literally, it refers to the lowest part of something—the bottom of a hill, a drawer, a swimming pool, or a drawing. You might say, "She reached the bottom of the page," meaning she was at the final section of it.
But "bottom" isn't always about physical location. It can also indicate the end of a series: "We've reached the bottom of the list" means there are no more items to check off. In finance, "the bottom line" refers to the final profit or loss after all expenses have been accounted for; figuratively, this has come to mean the most important factor in any situation.
Figuratively, "bottom" can describe someone's emotional state. A person going through severe hardship might say they've "hit rock bottom," meaning they have reached their lowest point. It can also be used informally for a person's rear end ("He fell on his bottom!") or, in some social contexts, for a receptive role in relationships.
Historically, "bottom" was used to describe the hull of a ship—the part that rests in the water—and can also refer to the entire vessel in a commercial context. In printing and layout, it can mean the lower margin or space under the main body of text on a page.
So, whether you mean physical position, sequence, finance, emotion, anatomy, or nautical and design terms, "bottom" is a versatile word with layers of meaning—just like life itself!
Examples
- 1
Inside container
We found the keys at the bottom of the bag.
- 2
Form layout
Your name should be at the bottom of the form.
- 3
Shelf position
The cereal is on the bottom shelf.
- 4
Sports ranking
After three straight losses, the team dropped to the bottom of the table.
- Domainin sports, the table
the ranking in a league
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Complete cleaning
She cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom.
- Phrasefrom top to bottom
completely
- 6
Lowest level
Oil prices fell to rock bottom last year.
- Phraserock bottom
the lowest possible level
- 7
Personal crisis
After losing his job and his apartment, he felt he had hit bottom.
- Phrasehit bottom
reach the lowest point in a bad situation
- 8
Main point
The bottom line is that we need more time to finish the project.
- Phrasethe bottom line
the most important point
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- bottomnounverbadjective
Forms
- bottomspluralnounverbadjective
- bottomedpast tenseverbnounadjective
- bottoming-ing formverbnounadjective