Dictionary

on the ground en · ADP

Meanings

1. In an area (location) of interest or active operations, versus outside that area (and especially, far away from it).
   • You might feel differently about this policy if you were on the ground in a war zone.
2. In the daily life of the general public, or at least in that of some group of people who aren't out-of-touch elites.
   • “It’s so obvious that he has no clue as to what is really happening on the ground,” she added. 2023 July 15, Brooks Barnes, quoting Fran Drescher, “In Hollywood, the Strikes Are Just Part of the Problem”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • Near-synonyms: on the street, in the streets, in reality, in the real world
   • Evidently, senior management has no idea how things get done by those of us on the ground.
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, the, ground.
   • I'm still surprised that I found a hundred-dollar bill just lying on the ground.

Deriveds

facts on the ground · feet on the ground · boots on the ground · eyes on the ground

Relateds

founding · foundation · on solid ground · well-founded · grounding · well-grounded · grounded · ground truth

Synonyms

in the streets · on the spot · in the field · in reality · in situ · on location · on the street · real world