Basement — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈbās-mənt/ base·ment

Meaning & Definition of Basement

Basement (noun)

  1. the part of a building that is wholly or partly below ground level
  2. the ground floor facade or interior in Renaissance architecture
  3. the lowest or fundamental part of something; specifically, the rocks underlying stratified rocks

Basement (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a room or set of rooms below the surface of the ground

    "we store our bicycles in the basement during the winter"

    similar: cellar
    related: cellarage, bunker, crawlway, foundation, hold, vault, cyclone cellar, storm cellar

  2. the lowest part, place, or point

    "the basement of the outdoor fountain needs a lot of restoration work"

    similar: base, bottom, foot, nadir, rock bottom
    related: basis, bed, bedrock, foundation, ground, groundwork, keystone, seat, underpinning
    opposite: head, top, vertex
    near: acme, apex, climax, crest, culmination, height, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tip, tip-top, zenith

Related Entry: Bargain-basement (adjective)

Bargain-basement is a different word from Basement. The synonyms below are for bargain-basement, not for basement.

  1. costing little

    "throughout the trip we ate at bargain-basement restaurants in order to save money"

    similar: affordable, budget, cheap, cheapie, cheapo, chintzy, cut-price (chiefly British), cut-rate, dime-store, dirt cheap, el cheapo, inexpensive, low, low-end, popular, reasonable
    related: cheapish, moderate, discount, discounted, fire-sale, lowered, reduced, wholesale, valueless, worthless, supercheap, ultracheap
    opposite: costly, dear, deluxe, expensive, high, high-ticket, precious, premium, pricey, spendy (chiefly Northwest), valuable
    near: increased, inflated, exorbitant, extravagant, overpriced, prohibitive, prohibitory, steep, stiff, superexpensive, ultraexpensive, unreasonable, invaluable, priceless, luxurious

  2. of low quality

    "bargain-basement shoes that fell apart after a week"

    similar: bad, bum, cheap, cheapjack, cheesy, coarse, common, crappy (slang), cut-rate, el cheapo, execrable, gimcrack, inferior, junky, lousy, low-grade, low-rent, mediocre, miserable, poor, rotten, rubbishy, schlock, second-rate, shoddy, sleazy, terrible, trashy, trumpery, wretched
    related: useless, valueless, worthless, indifferent, lackluster, second-class, brummagem, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, kitsch, kitschy, meretricious, ostentatious, showy, splashy, swank, tawdry, seedy, shabby, tacky, counterfeit, fake, phony, sham, supercheap, ultracheap
    opposite: excellent, fine, first-class, first-rate, good, high-grade, superior, top-notch
    near: elegant, handsome, tasteful, handcrafted, polished, refined

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Basement

The most common words with a similar meaning to Basement:

cellar, base, bottom, foot, nadir, rock bottom

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Basement

Words with the opposite meaning of Basement:

head, top, vertex

Related Words for Basement

cellarage, bunker, crawlway, foundation, hold, vault, cyclone cellar, storm cellar, basis, bed, bedrock, ground, groundwork, keystone, seat, underpinning

Near Antonyms of Basement

acme, apex, climax, crest, culmination, height, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tip, tip-top, zenith

Word Forms of Basement

Derived words: basementless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Basement

base:1 or base:2 + -ment, probably after Italian basamento

First known use: 1730

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Basement

Words & Phrases Containing Basement

basement membrane, bargain-basement, bargain basement, subbasement, finished basement/attic

Frequently Asked Questions about Basement

What does "Basement" mean?

"Basement" means the part of a building that is wholly or partly below ground level. As a noun, it is defined as: the part of a building that is wholly or partly below ground level. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Basement"?

Other words for "Basement" include cellar, base, bottom, foot, nadir and rock bottom. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Basement" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Basement"?

There are 22 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Basement". Common alternatives include cellar, base, bottom, foot, nadir and rock bottom.

What is the opposite of "Basement"?

Antonyms of "Basement" include head, top and vertex. Near antonyms include acme, apex, climax and crest.

How do you use "Basement" in a sentence?

Examples of "Basement" in a sentence: "we store our bicycles in the basement during the winter"; "the basement of the outdoor fountain needs a lot of restoration work".

Is "Basement" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Basement" is a noun.

Is "Basement" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Basement" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Basement"?

"Basement" is pronounced /ˈbās-mənt/ and divided into syllables as base·ment.