bottom out

reach the lowest point before starting to improve

C1

What does "bottom out" mean?

To say that something 'bottoms out' is to say it has reached its absolute lowest point after a period of decline — and crucially, that it is now stabilising or beginning to turn around. The phrase implies a V-shaped trajectory: a fall, a nadir, and then some prospect of recovery. This is what distinguishes it from simply saying something 'fell sharply' or 'collapsed', which carry no implication of subsequent improvement. It is most at home in financial journalism, economic analysis, and business reporting, where writers describe the behaviour of prices, rates, markets, and other measurable indicators. Metaphorical uses are possible — one might say morale or confidence 'bottomed out' — but these tend to sound informal and slightly figurative against the verb's primary, data-driven context.

Examples

How to use it

subject (trend/rate/market) + bottom out

The most common pattern: a measurable indicator or economic quantity acts as the subject, with no object following the phrasal verb.

Oil prices bottomed out in early 2016 before climbing steadily through the following year.

subject + bottom out + at + figure

Use 'at' to specify the exact value or level reached at the lowest point.

The company's quarterly revenue bottomed out at €2.3 million before the new strategy took effect.

subject + bottom out + in/during + time period

Use 'in' or 'during' to anchor the lowest point to a specific moment or period.

Consumer confidence bottomed out during the third quarter and has since shown modest improvement.

subject + appear/seem/be expected to + have bottomed out

The present perfect is frequently embedded in reporting structures that assess whether the lowest point has been reached.

Many analysts believe that unemployment has finally bottomed out and predict gradual improvement over the next two years.

subject + bottom out + before/and then + recovery phrase

Explicitly pairing the verb with a recovery phrase reinforces the turning-point meaning and is a very natural construction in financial commentary.

Stock valuations bottomed out in March and then staged a remarkable recovery over the following six months.

Common Collocations

the market bottomed outprices bottomed outsales bottomed outunemployment bottomed outthe economy bottomed out

Common Mistakes

Implying no recovery

'Bottom out' carries an inherent suggestion of a turning point — the lowest point before things stabilise or improve. Using it to describe a permanent or terminal collapse is inaccurate; 'collapse', 'plummet', or 'fall sharply' are better choices in those contexts.

✗ The firm's sales bottomed out and the business eventually closed.
✓ The firm's sales collapsed and the business eventually closed.
Confusing 'bottom out' with 'level off'

'Level off' means to stop changing and remain steady at any point — it does not imply reaching the lowest point of a decline. Use 'bottom out' only when describing the end of a downward trend, not a general plateau.

✗ Interest rates levelled off at their lowest point and are now expected to rise.
✓ Interest rates bottomed out and are now expected to rise.
Using the present continuous

Because 'bottom out' describes the moment a trend reaches its nadir — a turning point rather than an ongoing action — the present continuous sounds unnatural in most contexts. The simple past or present perfect is almost always the right choice.

✗ Analysts say that inflation is bottoming out as we speak.
✓ Analysts say that inflation has bottomed out.

Usage

This phrasal verb is formal and most common in financial and economic writing and journalism. It typically describes measurable trends (prices, rates, figures) rather than abstract feelings, though metaphorical uses do occur in informal speech.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'bottom out' to describe a person's feelings or emotions?

It's possible, but this is a metaphorical extension of the verb's primary meaning and sounds informal. In its core use, the subject is a measurable quantity — a price, rate, or market. Saying 'my motivation bottomed out' is understood, but in professional or academic writing, it would stand out as figurative language rather than standard usage.

Can 'bottom out' be used in the passive voice?

No. 'Bottom out' is intransitive, meaning it takes no object, so it cannot be made passive. The subject is always the thing that reaches its lowest point — you cannot say something 'was bottomed out'.

Does 'bottom out' always refer to economic or financial topics?

Not exclusively, but that is by far its most natural domain. It works well with any measurable trend — enrolment figures, energy output, or even public support ratings. The key requirement is that there is a quantifiable decline with an implied turning point, not that the topic is strictly financial.

Is there a difference between 'bottomed out' and 'hit rock bottom'?

'Hit rock bottom' is much more informal and is commonly used about people and personal situations, such as financial ruin or personal crisis. 'Bottom out' is more formal and analytical, preferred when discussing trends, data, or markets. Both describe reaching a lowest point, but they belong to quite different registers and contexts.

Why is the present continuous avoided with 'bottom out'?

'Bottom out' describes a turning point — the moment a decline ends — which is more like an event than an ongoing process. The present continuous typically describes something in progress, which creates a tension with this meaning. Occasionally you might hear it in live financial commentary for dramatic emphasis, but in most writing, the simple past or present perfect is far more natural.

Ready to practise?

Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.

Start Practising →