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.

Alibaba is ramping up its artificial-intelligence efforts, but investors are worried the company’s aggressive spending plan will drag down its bottom line.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

As this increase also has no incremental costs, most of the additional revenue should flow directly to the airport operator’s bottom line, the analyst says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

The bottom line is that, if current vote-count trends hold, the board will be unchanged for the next two years.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

“The bottom line is that Social Security is the critical foundation of retirement security that Americans have earned through a lifetime of hard work, paying in with every paycheck. It must be strengthened and protected.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 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