groundwork

noun

ˈgrau̇nd-ˌwərk How to pronounce groundwork (audio)
Definition of groundworknext
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

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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 The report helped lay the groundwork for the grading overhaul, after years during which more lenient grading had been seen as a way to ease anxiety among high-achieving students. — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026 That could lay the groundwork for moving from small projects to broader, more ambitious efforts involving more partners. — Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Slotkin told The Associated Press that Trump has been laying the groundwork to claim the midterms were stolen. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 Some have also suggested that the company is laying the legal groundwork for a fast-track appeals process. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for groundwork
Recent Examples of Synonyms for groundwork
  1. foundation
  2. basis
  3. cornerstone
  4. bedrock
Noun
  • Beneath that sits a high-density support-foam foundation designed to limit sagging and compression over time, along with a textured anti-slip base to reduce movement on the bed frame.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Aid by Trade introduced its Regenerative Cotton Standard in 2023 with the goal of promoting soil health and biodiversity, and the foundation said that program has expanded in India and Tanzania.
    — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of foundation
Noun
  • Pricing Happy Head’s topical solution is billed on a monthly basis, with a single bottle containing two ounces of treatment solution.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Rice had a side hustle as a vintage dealer and brought in plenty of pieces from the same era, including 1950s sofas by Peter Hvidt and Orla Mølgaard-Nielsen, a pair of 1970s blue suede armchairs, and benches from France with colorful bases.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of basis
Noun
  • In the early ‘60s, the Tower Theater’s films entertained Cuban refugees and introduced them to American culture, making the theater a cultural cornerstone for the local Cuban community.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy.
    — Kica Matos, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of cornerstone
Noun
  • The rest go deeper, forming waves that may move through some combination of loose material or the underlying bedrock.
    — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In a matter of decades, private credit has become the bedrock of the post-industrial US economy, contributing nearly $900 billion to the country’s GDP and providing six million jobs over the past three years alone.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of bedrock

Browse Nearby Words

ground swells
groundwork
groundworks
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Groundwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groundwork. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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