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bottom out

B2 neutral intransitive
In simple words

When something gets as bad or as low as it can possibly get, it has bottomed out.

Literal meaning: To touch or reach the bottom and then come out (on the other side).

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic neutral

To reach the lowest point of a declining trend (especially in economics or finance) before stabilizing or recovering.

"Analysts believe that house prices have finally bottomed out and will start rising again next year."

"The market may have bottomed out, but a full recovery could still be years away."

— The Financial Times, 2009
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To reach the worst point of a difficult personal situation, such as addiction or depression, before beginning to recover.

"He felt that he had truly bottomed out when he lost his job, his home, and his family in the same month."

3 B2 neutral

For a vehicle to scrape the underside of its chassis on the ground due to a dip or uneven surface.

"The old car bottomed out as it went over the speed bump too fast."

Usage notes

Commonly used in economic and financial contexts (e.g. prices, markets), but also used for personal struggles or any declining trend. It often carries an implicit sense of hope — that things may improve after the low point.

Commonly used with

prices market economy recession sales confidence

Forms

Base
bottom out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bottoms out
he/she/it
Past simple
bottomed out
yesterday
Past participle
bottomed out
have + pp
-ing form
bottoming out
continuous

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Synonyms

hit rock bottom reach its lowest point hit the floor reach a trough level out reach the nadir

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