floor

1 of 2

noun

plural floors
often attributive
1
: the level base of a room
2
a
: the lower inside surface of a hollow structure (such as a cave or bodily part)
b
: a ground surface
the ocean floor
3
a
: a structure dividing a building into stories
also : story
b
: the occupants of such a floor
4
: the surface of a structure on which one travels
the floor of a bridge
5
a
: a main level space (as in a stock exchange or legislative chamber) distinguished from a platform or gallery
b
: the specially prepared or marked area on which indoor sports events take place
c
: the members of an assembly
took questions from the floor
d
: the right to address an assembly
the senator from Utah has the floor
6
: a lower limit : base

see also take the floor

floor

2 of 2

verb

floored; flooring; floors

transitive verb

1
: to cover with a floor or flooring
2
a
: to knock or bring down
3
: to press (the accelerator of a vehicle) to the floorboard
also : to accelerate rapidly
floored the van
floorer noun
Phrases
from the floor
: in field goals as opposed to free throws
made 16 of 18 shots from the floor

Examples of floor in a Sentence

Noun Keep your feet on the floor. the floor of a car She lives on the second floor of a five-story building. His office is located on the fourth floor. Verb He floored me with his first punch. The news just floored me.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Lawmakers sought votes on several amendments and wanted to have their say on the bill and other priorities during debate on the floor. Kevin Freking, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2024 The sturdiness of both the chairs and table was assessed, as well as any tendency to tip over or slip on hard floors. Samantha McIntyre, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024 Both times she was carried off the floor by her sister, Kellan, a senior. Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024 On March 2, officers responded to a home in Blackwood, N.J., and found Lillian dead on a bedroom floor with apparent trauma to the back of her head, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE. Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 Clean hardwood floors or carpets with ease and clean all the hard-to-reach places in your home with a detachable vacuum cleaner head. Christopher Murray, Fox News, 9 Mar. 2024 Creative coverings for floors, walls and furniture include rugs, wallpaper and fabrics. March 8, 2024 This article is part of our Design special section about innovative surfaces in architecture, interiors and products. Arlene Hirst, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 The 30,000-square-foot fourth floor inside the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields will be covered in digital animations of the artist's work that are set to a soundtrack. The Indianapolis Star, 27 Feb. 2024 She was found on the floor of the home trying to hide from deputies, authorities said. Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2024
Verb
But Remy said he was floored when the lawyer put him on the stand without properly preparing him. Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 16 Feb. 2024 She was floored by the finding, which was first reported by Iowa’s News Now. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024 Rebecca Grossman floored the gas pedal and struck two boys at ‘freeway speeds,’ investigators say. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024 Starting Position: Lie on your stomach on an exercise mat or floor with your hands by your sides, positioned directly under your shoulders and hands facing forward. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2024 Several areas of the home also had exposed plywood flooring with visible stains from new and old animal urine and feces, according to the affidavit. Elizabeth Pritchett, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2024 The images, some of which are printed in this book, floored her. Dwight Garner, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2024 Woods said he's still floored by the Ohtani-Dodgers deal and couldn't imagine ever advising a client to take so little up-front compensation. David K. Li, NBC News, 15 Dec. 2023 There’s triumph in staying in, in saying no, in resting before feeling floored, in getting groceries in three trips, in choosing the later train or no train at all. Kristina Kasparian, Longreads, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'floor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English flor, from Old English flōr; akin to Old High German fluor meadow, Latin planus level, and perhaps to Greek planasthai to wander

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of floor was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near floor

Cite this Entry

“Floor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floor. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

floor

1 of 2 noun
ˈflō(ə)r How to pronounce floor (audio)
ˈflȯ(ə)r
1
: the part of a room on which one stands
2
a
: the lower inside surface of a hollow structure
the floor of a car
b
: a ground surface
the ocean floor
3
: a story of a building
lives on the second floor

floor

2 of 2 verb
1
: to cover with a floor or flooring
2
a
: to knock to the floor

Medical Definition

: the lower inside surface of a hollow anatomical structure
the floor of the pelvis

Legal Definition

floor

noun
1
a
: a main level space (as in a stock exchange or legislative chamber) distinguished from a platform or gallery
b
: members of an assembly
took questions from the floor
c
: the right to address an assembly
the senator from Utah has the floor
2
: a lower limit
a five percent floor on deductions for medical expenses

More from Merriam-Webster on floor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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