# basement

/ˈbeɪsmənt/ (US) · /bˈeɪsmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/basement
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. underground floor

noun · CEFR B1

a floor of a building that is below the level of the ground.

For teachers: the lowest storey of a building, situated wholly or partly below ground level.

- We store our old suitcases and holiday decorations in the basement.
- The architect designed a reinforced concrete basement to house the building's complex heating and ventilation systems.

Teaching tip: In British English, 'cellar' is often used for storage areas, while 'basement' usually implies a finished, livable space.

### 2. lowest rank

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the very bottom position in a sports league or competition.

For teachers: the lowest position in a league table or set of competitive standings.

- After losing five games in a row, the team is stuck in the league basement.
- The club's management is under immense pressure to recruit new talent before they become permanent residents of the division basement.

Usage: Often used with the definite article 'the'.

Teaching tip: This is a common metaphorical use in sports journalism to describe teams that are failing.

### 3. rock foundation

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the solid rock that lies under layers of soil or softer rock.

For teachers: the solid, typically igneous or metamorphic rock that forms the foundation of a tectonic platform.

- The engineers had to drill deep through the soil to reach the hard basement rock.
- Geological surveys revealed that the sedimentary basin sits atop a complex basement of ancient metamorphic structures.

Usage: Often used as a modifier, as in 'basement rock'.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialized term used in geology and civil engineering.

## Examples

- We keep our old boxes in the basement.
- The family decided to renovate their damp basement into a bright home office and guest bedroom.
- Engineers discovered that the building's basement had suffered significant water damage due to a crack in the foundation wall following the spring floods.

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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.