ground speed

noun

: the speed (as of an airplane) with relation to the ground compare airspeed

Examples of ground speed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Average it out, and that's a ground speed of about 2 miles per year. — Kira Wakeam, NPR, 16 Dec. 2024 Onboard software compares that speed to the bike's current ground speed, and arrives at the wind speed by calculating the difference between the two. — Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 3 Dec. 2024 While storks have a much lower air speed, perhaps 30 mph compared to over 100 mph for a Shahed, their ground speed may be similar. — David Hambling, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 By comparing that to the bike’s ground speed as determined by the Elemnt Ace’s dual-band GPS system, the speed of the wind can be calculated. — Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 4 Dec. 2024 As Goose quickly gains ground speed and Block remains committed to open-source AI, the project can soon be a standard bearer of the agentic AI revolution. — Tor Constantino, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ground speed was in 1917

Rhymes for ground speed

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Browse Nearby Words

ground sparrow
ground speed
ground squirrel
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ground speed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ground%20speed. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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