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 Web
Harold Gutmann, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
An American World War II warship that played a key role in Allied campaigns in the Pacific has been discovered at the bottom of the Indian Ocean more than 80 years after it was sunk.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Tom Aspray, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Who came out on top, and who was left bottoming (in an unsexy, not-kinky way) the seventh installment of Love Is Blind?
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Andrew Greif Both Indianapolis and Minnesota rank in the league’s bottom third defensively in allowing rushing yards, with the Colts giving up an average of 227 yards, and the Vikings 263, which is the NFL’s third-worst average.
—Andrew Greif, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bottom 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The Galaxy and Revolution were both at the bottom of the league table when Arena took over.
—Harold Gutmann, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
An American World War II warship that played a key role in Allied campaigns in the Pacific has been discovered at the bottom of the Indian Ocean more than 80 years after it was sunk.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Verb
But by February 13th, there were signs from the daily A/D lines, that the stock market was bottoming.
—Tom Aspray, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Who came out on top, and who was left bottoming (in an unsexy, not-kinky way) the seventh installment of Love Is Blind?
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024
Adjective
So his absence looms large on this team that's in the bottom half of the league... in defensive efficiency.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Andrew Greif Both Indianapolis and Minnesota rank in the league’s bottom third defensively in allowing rushing yards, with the Colts giving up an average of 227 yards, and the Vikings 263, which is the NFL’s third-worst average.
—Andrew Greif, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bottom
Dictionary Entries Near bottom
Cite this Entry
“Bottom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottom. Accessed 23 Nov. 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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