Thesaurus results for GROUNDWORK

groundwork

noun

ˈgrau̇nd-ˌwərk

Definition of groundwork

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 Dickson learned that at Mattel, where his work reviving Barbie helped lay the groundwork for the megahit film based on the doll. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 Hospital lobbyists and leaders have begun laying the groundwork to delay, roll back, or mitigate the unwelcome cuts, which will start to take effect next year, STAT’s Daniel Payne reports today. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 27 Aug. 2026 The film set the singer on a movie-star trajectory, while her music continued to brim with respect for the nation’s unsung heroes, laying the groundwork for a multimedia takeover that found ways to center the salt of the earth. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 In 2018, shortly before her passing, Mason laid the groundwork for what would become the Emily Mason | Alice Trumbull Mason Foundation. — News Desk, Artforum, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for groundwork

Recent Examples of Synonyms for groundwork

Noun

The next chapter of AI belongs to the R&D aimed at foundations, and the need for it has never been greater.

— Charles Yeomans, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Those resilient foundations, and that never-say-die mentality, feel badly shaken.

— Cerys Jones, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of foundation

Noun

Insights gained from the pilot project will form the basis for a potential future application of these materials in series-production battery cells.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
Venable hasn’t diverged from his early-season strategy of using his relievers early and often and employing openers on a semiregular basis.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of basis

Noun

Projecting stability and an image of due processes has become a cornerstone of President Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

— Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
The charismatic Mamdani made the city’s affordability a cornerstone of his campaign that was fueled by social media.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of cornerstone

Noun

That idea became the spiritual bedrock of one of the most consequential publications of the American women’s movement.

— Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
An incident of the massive scale seen in Nepal is rare, but smaller, similar disasters will be more frequent in the future as the melting of glaciers and permafrost creates unstable bedrock in mountains, according to Cook.

— Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of bedrock

Browse Nearby Words

ground swells

groundwork

groundworks

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Groundwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groundwork. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of groundwork

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

elegiac

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes