ground out

B2 neutral intransitive

In simple words

In baseball: to hit the ball along the ground so that a fielder throws you out before you reach base. More generally: to slow down and stop.

Literal meaning: To hit the ball to the ground and be put out — largely transparent in baseball context.

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

common

(Baseball) To be put out after hitting a ball along the ground, which a fielder throws to first base before the batter arrives.

"The cleanup batter grounded out to shortstop to end the inning."

2 C1 idiomatic neutral

rare

To come to a halt or fail to make further progress.

"The negotiations seemed to ground out after both sides refused to make concessions."

Usage notes

Primarily a baseball term. The broader figurative sense (a plan or conversation grinding out / coming to a halt) is less common and may overlap with 'grind out.' Mostly used in American English sports contexts.

Commonly used with

shortstop second base inning pitcher at-bat

Forms

Base

ground out

I/you/we/they

3rd person

grounds out

he/she/it

Past simple

grounded out

yesterday

Past participle

grounded out

have + pp

-ing form

grounding out

continuous

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Synonyms

hit into a groundout be thrown out come to a stop stall

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