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

Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 manga laid the groundwork for some of the genre's most enduring tropes (gender switching, horny old guys, tournaments), and this is the second anime adaptation, this time from Studio MAPPA. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026

Because the materials used in synthetic fibers are derived from petroleum, those investments helped lay the groundwork for Sunkyong’s later expansion into oil refining. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026

But, as Egerton concludes, the gains of the 1950s and 1960s would have been unattainable without the groundwork laid by this earlier generation of activists. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

Recent reports say Goldman is laying the groundwork for Waldron to take over as soon as 2027 or 2028. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 1 Oct. 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