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
Relevance
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
Aguirre, a crusading force in bringing attention to the pollution crisis alongside her predecessor, Serge Dedina, continues to push for solutions from her new post — groundwork that has given the city’s current leadership room to widen its focus.
—
Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Their first conversation is comically lopsided, and McKellen, purring his way through what is effectively a monologue, lays the groundwork for his most vividly inhabited and hilariously irascible performance in years.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
His administration has meanwhile begun probing federal programs for fraud — work that could lay the groundwork for deeper cuts.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Crane’s interviews with Simon and cold case detectives with the Baltimore Police Department who worked on her father’s case lay the groundwork for her investigation.
—Annie Vainshtein, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for groundwork
Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Their first conversation is comically lopsided, and McKellen, purring his way through what is effectively a monologue, lays the groundwork for his most vividly inhabited and hilariously irascible performance in years.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
His administration has meanwhile begun probing federal programs for fraud — work that could lay the groundwork for deeper cuts.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Crane’s interviews with Simon and cold case detectives with the Baltimore Police Department who worked on her father’s case lay the groundwork for her investigation.
—Annie Vainshtein, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for groundwork
Recent Examples of Synonyms for groundwork
Noun
-
With roster movement already underway and a top-25 recruiting class incoming, the season that just concluded serves as a foundation rather than a finished product.—
Aaron Segal,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
-
And both reckon with the extent to which historical ignorance and the calculated distortion of the past threaten the foundation on which our country was built.—
Francine Prose,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Alex Vesia walked pinch-hitter Davis Schneider to load the bases, then retired the next three batters.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Centennial loaded the bases with 2 singles and an error before the Owls got the next 2 batters to strike out.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Plus, some of the players Colorado is counting on to be cornerstones are off to terrible starts.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026
-
How could the Bruins allow the cornerstone of the program’s future to just walk out the door?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For traditionalists, this link is not merely ceremonial but is the foundational bedrock of British identity.—
Michael Saunders,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Cenotes are freshwater sinkhole caves formed from the collapse of limestone bedrock.—
Ryan Brennan
April 4,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Groundwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groundwork. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
