groundwork

noun

ground·​work ˈgrau̇nd-ˌwərk 

: foundation, basis

laid the groundwork for a new program

also : preparation made beforehand

The groundwork was done before the winter tour.

—Susan Reiter

Synonyms of groundwork

• foundation
• basis
• cornerstone
• bedrock

Examples of groundwork in a Sentence

they had collectively laid the groundwork for a new kind of art

Recent Examples on the Web

Ultimately, a third, more cautious alternatives involves developing a small, under one kWe, radioisotope power system, in order to establish regulatory frameworks and technical groundwork before scaling. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026

Roma came close to the top win, in fact — arguably laying the groundwork for the Parasite phenomenon that came the next year, when Bong Joon Ho’s Korean satire, steered by Neon, defied the odds as the first non-English-language film to ever win best picture. —David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 10 Feb. 2026

As Black Mountain has worked through the city’s red tape in Fort Worth, the developer also appears to be laying the groundwork for more data centers in North Texas. —Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Feb. 2026

Instead, Fauna is laying the groundwork for a future where humanoid robots earn their place through careful design and responsible deployment. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing groundwork

• lay the groundwork/foundation

Rhymes for groundwork

• artwork
• beadwork
• berserk
• breastwork
• brickwork
• brushwork
• casework
• classwork
• clockwork
• coursework
• ductwork
• earthwork

Kids Definition

groundwork

noun

ground·​work ˈgrau̇n-ˌdwərk 

: foundation sense 2, basis