Grounding query · Anchoring query
A grounding query is a query an AI engine sends to a search index to ground its answer. Bing Webmaster Tools exposes a sample in its AI Performance report: these are the phrases the AI used to find the content it then cited.
Standalone definition · 43 words
How is a grounding query generated?
From the user’s question, the engine formulates one or more search queries, often rephrased and more precise. They resemble the sub-queries of a query fan-out and do not match what the user typed.
What does a grounding query reveal?
It shows how the AI frames the information need behind a question: angle, constraints, vocabulary. It is a basis for GEO-oriented keyword research, to be read as a topic rather than a literal keyword.
How do you use them?
Export grounding queries from Bing Webmaster Tools, group them by theme, spot the topics where the site is cited without a dedicated page and those where it does not appear. Several queries can point to one URL, and one URL can depend on several queries.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see my grounding queries?
In the AI Performance report in Bing Webmaster Tools, which exposes a sample. Google offers none in its AI reports today.
Does a grounding query have a search volume?
No. It is generated by the AI, not typed by users, and the report gives no volume.
Are a grounding query and a sub-query the same thing?
The two notions overlap. A sub-query is any query produced by decomposition; a grounding query is one used to retrieve sources.
Related terms
Further reading
- Profound vs Otterly vs Ahrefs Brand Radar: 2026 Query Fan-Out Comparison
- Microsoft Clarity, Bing Webmaster Tools: the Only GEO Stack That Actually Measures LLM Visibility
- Profound vs SEMRush AI Visibility Toolkit: Which really tracks your AI visibility?
- GEO tools comparison 2026: top 10 free and paid
- Which GEO tool to choose: the decision guide
- ← Back to the GEO glossary (114 terms)