# aground

/əˈɡɹaʊnd/ (US) · /ɐɡɹˈaʊnd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aground
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

stuck on the bottom of a river, lake, or sea. You use this when a boat or ship cannot move because it is caught on sand or rocks.

For teachers: resting on or stuck to the bottom of a body of water. Often used predicatively after a linking verb or as a participial adjective.

## Examples

- The small boat is stuck aground on the sand.
- The captain realized the ship was aground after the tide went out and the hull scraped against the rocks.
- The vessel became aground during the sudden storm, forcing the crew to wait for the rising tide to free the hull before continuing their journey.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.