basement
Lowest floor, partly underground
The lowest floor of a house or building that is partly or fully under the ground.
in the basement of [a building]
- We keep the washing machine in the basement.
- During the storm, everyone went down to the basement for safety.
- They turned their dark basement into a bright home office.
- The pipes burst in the basement and flooded the floor.
- The kids like to play video games in the finished basement.
- Our freezer is in the basement.
- I went down to the basement to get some boxes.
- They have a small bathroom in their basement.
- The basement is cold in the winter.
- We park the bikes in the basement of our building.
Lowest rank or position
The very last place in a list that shows best to worst, such as a sports table or company ranking.
[someone/something] is in the basement of [ranking/list]
- After losing ten games in a row, the team dropped into the basement of the league.
- The company has climbed out of the basement of the industry rankings in just three years.
- Their test scores were stuck in the basement until they changed their study habits.
- The film started in the basement of the box-office charts but slowly built an audience.
- No one wants to finish the season in the basement of the division.
- Our football team is in the basement of the league.
- The store was in the basement of the sales rankings last year.
- The singer’s first album was in the basement of the charts.
- The school wants to move out of the basement in the test results.
- His score used to be in the basement, but now it is much higher.
- Base: basement
- Plural: basements
basement apartment
1Apartment in a basement
An apartment that is built in the basement of a house or other building.
- She rents a small basement apartment near the university.
- Basement apartments are often cheaper but can have less natural light.
finished basement
1Basement ready for regular use
A basement that has walls, flooring, lights, and other things so people can live, work, or play there comfortably.
- The house has a finished basement with a guest room and a TV area.
- They spent the summer turning their unfinished basement into a finished basement.
in the basement
1In last place in rankings
To be at the very bottom of a list that shows best to worst, for example in sports, business, or test scores.
- Our local team is still in the basement, but they’re improving.
- The company was in the basement for customer satisfaction before the new CEO arrived.
living in your parents' basement
1Dependent adult living with parents
To be an adult who still lives in their parents’ basement, often used to suggest that the person is not independent or successful.
- He jokes that if his business fails, he’ll be living in his parents’ basement again.
- The stereotype of a gamer living in his parents’ basement is unfair but common.