Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bottom line

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.75 in modern English

Syllables: bot-tom -line
IPA

14

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The final balance; the amount of money or profit left after everything has been tallied.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The summary or result; the most important information.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A minimum acceptable result from a negotiation.

Countable; Uncountable

adv

Synonym of all in all.

Example Sentences

"For quotations using this term, see Citations:bottom line."
"The bottom line is that there simply are not enough hours in the day to finish all there is to do."
"I need your lovin' and that's the bottom line / I need your lovin' or just a little time"
"When Gorbachev totals up the balance sheet of Soviet strengths and weaknesses, the bottom line is not encouraging. Moscow has put itself into a unique historical position: It does not have a single ally among the major powers of the world."
"The bottom line is this - England have little or no chance of beating quality international sides if they defend as shoddily and carelessly as this, if they give possession away as cheaply as this and are as easy to get at as Kosovo made it look."
"But the bottom line is that passengers want to see staff at a station and be able to find them easily."

Etymology

A reference to the literal bottom line of an income statement or other accounting record.

Usage

Inflected Forms

bottom lines (plural)

Phrases

bottom-line bottom liner at bottom bottom dollar rock bottom

Frequently Paired Words

at bottom bottom dollar rock bottom

Synonyms

upshot net-net BATNA reservation price all in all

Questions

What does bottom line mean?: The final balance; the amount of money or profit left after everything has been tallied.
Where does bottom line come from?: A reference to the literal bottom line of an income statement or other accounting record.

How to pronounce bottom line

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “bottom line”.
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