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

Any potential sponsorships or naming rights deals would still be a long way off, as the city said no contracts will be awarded at the end of this process, which is intended only to gauge interest and lay the groundwork for future deals. —Todd Feurer, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026

Two years ago, Airbnb began laying the groundwork for personalization features by prompting hosts and guests to add more detail to their profile pages. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026

In an Old Florida twist, Brightline runs along some of the same railways that were knitted together by Henry Flagler in the late 19th and early 20th century—the ones that laid the groundwork for the state’s present-day tourism industry. —Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026

For Ta, the expansion represents the culmination of a decade of groundwork. —Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 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