bottom line

NOUN

center or central factor

Synonyms

STRONGEST

core crux essence income profit reality

WEAK

basis conclusion determination fiber final decision fundamentals key point last word loss main idea main point main thing meat and potatoes name of the game net nitty-gritty nuts and bolts point sum and substance what it's all about whole story

ADJECTIVE

of key importance

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cardinal critical crucial essential fundamental important indispensable

STRONG

necessary underlying vital

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For Heart of Midlothian, the tantalising, scarcely-believable, bottom line is this: after 66 years they may be crowned champions of Scotland on Wednesday.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

"Let's just remember," Castle said, "the bottom line is that we shouldn't be here at all."

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

The company posted a first-quarter loss of $389.1 million as legal fees weighed on its bottom line.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

“The bottom line is California elections have been validated by the courts,” California Secretary of State Shirley Weber said in a November statement.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Doesn’t matter—it’s all down to protocol in the end, and the bottom line is that I shouldn’t have taken that plane to France in the first place.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

bottom line

Example Sentences

Related Words