as in foundation
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests
they had collectively laid the groundwork for a new kind of art
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of groundwork
Meantime, immigrant rights activists are vowing to disrupt any raids.
— PREPPING FOR ’26: The Department of Recreation and Parks has begun laying the groundwork for a bond measure in 2026 to generate funding for its facilities.
—
David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2025
More broadly, this approach paired with a takedown of U.S. foreign aid and a reflexively antagonistic posture towards longtime allies lays the groundwork for a West that’s increasingly leaving the U.S. behind, dismissing us as isolated and irrelevant.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2025
Russia may be laying the groundwork for false-flag attacks in the Baltic Sea and against Russian opposition figures abroad to discredit Ukraine, a think tank has said.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
The decision comes as the Schroeder House and Grounds are poised to receive designation on the National Register of Historic Places, building upon the groundwork laid by the 106 Group, Miller Dunwiddie Architects, and Confluence.
—Julia Fomby, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for groundwork 
David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2025
More broadly, this approach paired with a takedown of U.S. foreign aid and a reflexively antagonistic posture towards longtime allies lays the groundwork for a West that’s increasingly leaving the U.S. behind, dismissing us as isolated and irrelevant.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2025
Russia may be laying the groundwork for false-flag attacks in the Baltic Sea and against Russian opposition figures abroad to discredit Ukraine, a think tank has said.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
The decision comes as the Schroeder House and Grounds are poised to receive designation on the National Register of Historic Places, building upon the groundwork laid by the 106 Group, Miller Dunwiddie Architects, and Confluence.
—Julia Fomby, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for groundwork
Recent Examples of Synonyms for groundwork
Noun
-
Developer Rick Caruso, who lost to Bass in the 2022 mayoral election and has been sharply critical of her since the fires, this week launched a foundation headed by a collection of business leaders to focus on recovery.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Chelsea Clinton did not receive any compensation for her work at the foundation since at least the fiscal year ending December 2013.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The world is currently in the opening stages of a massive new agricultural revolution that is combining recent advances in high tech and data sciences with traditional agricultural methods to meet the challenges of the 21st century on a sustainable basis.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
-
This area is known for its bustling immigrant street vendors, but lately there's been Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer sightings on a near daily basis, and it's gotten quieter.—
Jasmine Garsd,
NPR,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The complexities of child stardom, however, form the cornerstone for the novel.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
People.com,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Trump has made halting federal funding for EV adoption a cornerstone of his agenda.—
Emily Forlini,
PCMAG,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
And whatever happened to the bedrock idea of being a good neighbor?—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Further, the consolidation of civil rights terms in popular language has led to the type of cultural misunderstanding that has put bedrock legislation at risk.—
Ken Makin,
The Christian Science Monitor,
31 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near groundwork
Cite this Entry
“Groundwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groundwork. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share