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Glite Dictionary
solid ground

solid ground

13 1.8
Firm land you can stand on instead of water
  • noun
  • /ˈsɑːlɪd ɡraʊnd/
translation icon : tierra firme
  • We had to find solid ground to stand on before we could reprise last night.
  • stand on solid ground

They want to be on dry rock, solid ground looking up to a parent if you're I'll won't seek help.

Examples

  • As soon as Buffy had the thought, she felt solid ground beneath her boots.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Down on solid ground and it feels great.

    Lost Horizon (1973)

  • So at this point I had some solid ground to work from.

  • We're on solid ground here.

    And So It Goes (2014)

  • I had to find a bit of solid ground, a foundation.

    Academic text (2014)

  • Oh, it was grand to stand on solid ground again.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Then, I want to build upon that solid ground to do all I can with my life.

    Blog text (28)

  • About a minute later, my feet were once again on solid ground a mile away.

    Blog text (32)

  • I just love that the solid ground, the anchor we're searching for is connection.

  • After the storm subsided, we finally felt the solid ground beneath our feet.

Synonyms

ground
vssolid ground
∞ 1.0

The solid surface of the earth that people walk on and plants grow in

is a broader term for the planet's firm surface beyond just soil
land
vssolid ground
∞ 1.0

An area of ground used for farming, building, or as a country

is the physical firm surface not the wider idea of territory or nation
earth
vssolid ground
363 1.0

The ground or soil under your feet

is used more generally for any firm surface and not only soil or dirt
dry land
vssolid ground
23 1.0

The solid ground on Earth that is not under the sea

is the common expression for firm surface without stressing dryness
terra firma
vssolid ground
4 5.6

Solid dry land that is not the sea or air

is the more general phrase for the firm surface of the planet

Antonyms

air
∞ 1.0

The mixture of gases people and animals breathe

water
∞ 1.0

An area covered by water, like a river, lake, or sea

How Firm

bedrock
  • Specialized
12 4.7
solid ground
13 1.8
earth
363 1.0
sandy soil
1 2.5
dust
706 1.0

Surface Forms

solid ground singular
solid grounds plural

Morphology

solid + ground

The meaning 'the firm surface of the earth' is directly and compositionally derived from 'solid' (firm, hard) + 'ground' (earth surface). This literal pairing follows common English and cross‑linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily understand the expression.

Etymology

Solid ground comes from the simple image of standing on firm earth rather than on water or in the air, where solid and ground mean the steady land under your feet. After a long boat ride or a shaky bridge, finding solid ground felt safe and steady, so the phrase now means a firm, reliable surface or situation.