This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity. Sex education is forbidden ground in some school curricula. Lead white is a traditional ground for ground beef recipes paintings.

The quarterback was grounded by a knee injury. I can’t go to the party—my parents have grounded me until my grades improve. WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS? Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

He talked for two hours without covering much ground. It didn’t require much effort to cut the ground from under that case. She learned the business from the ground up. The professor knew his subject from the ground up. The case for air-pollution control is gaining ground throughout the country. The disarmament talks reached an impasse when neither side would give ground on inspection proposals. The referee stood his ground, though his decision was hotly contested by the crowd.

You’ve stated your case, and you needn’t run it into the ground. Our candidate is losing ground in industrial areas. The play never got off the ground. Minutes after the bank robbery reporters were on the ground to get the story. This climate suits me down to the ground.