foundation

noun

fau̇n-ˈdā-shən How to pronounce foundation (audio)
Definition of foundationnext
1
as in institute
a public organization with a particular purpose or function donated to a foundation that supported cancer research

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in basis
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests she had a good enough foundation in math to pursue an economics degree

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 foundation In 2025, the foundation donated more than $200,000 in instruments to five schools in Alabama. — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 2 Nov. 2026 This provides a specialized foundation if your student struggles primarily with math. — Karen Koehler, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026 Day’Ron Sharpe’s foul trouble has complicated his impact inside, and the center combination of Sharpe and Wagner has yet to provide a dependable defensive foundation. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026 First came filings to become a Connecticut non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. — Ron Farina, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foundation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foundation
  1. institute
  2. basis
  3. institution
  4. cornerstone
  5. group
  6. bedrock
Noun
  • Under the settlement, Primex, the district’s risk pool, will pay $225,000 to the institute and $50,000 to Lehmann Major List PLLC.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • This institute, also known as CIII, was cofounded by Gary Michelson, a billionaire philanthropist, retired surgeon, and Prop 38’s leading backer.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of institute
Noun
  • Specifically, the scientists found that a receptor protein in the ventromedial hypothalamus may form the basis for the foxes’ social behavior.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Plus, that can impact how the whole institution is run on a day-to-day basis, as Congress has the power to shake up the Smithsonian’s board of regents.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of basis
Noun
  • The growing cultural presence of the Indian-American community is also being reflected in the Bay Area's civic institutions.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Universities need institutions capable of sustaining serious debate after a visiting speaker leaves campus.
    — Ilya Shapiro, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of institution
Noun
  • To be clear, access to affordable care is the cornerstone of health and is perpetually under threat.
    — Brinda Adhikari, STAT, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Advertisement On the campaign trail in the nation’s capital, Lewis George similarly made expanding affordable housing and universal childcare cornerstones of her platform.
    — Chantelle Lee, Time, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of cornerstone
Noun
  • Supporters had hoped the freezing of the conflict since 2022 had allowed anti-Houthi forces to regroup, rearm, and emerge as a different fighting force than that which struggled to combat the group during the civil war from 2014-22.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Nov. 2026
  • His family said a group of men grabbed his sister near Elm Street, prompting a verbal altercation involving Boling.
    — Doug Myers, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of group
Noun
  • And though the former now shares space with the vast and hypercapricious cycles of social media, the local newspaper is still the bedrock those who built this town lean upon, longtime operators say.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Meanwhile, investors are also trying to discern what key election results could mean for the outlook for data centers, which are the bedrock of the AI trade that has buoyed US markets.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of bedrock

Browse Nearby Words

found
foundation
foundationless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foundation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foundation. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of valorous

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All