as in foundation
an immaterial thing upon which something else rests
they had collectively laid the groundwork for a new kind of art
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Recent Examples of groundwork
The last week of games has just laid the groundwork.
—
Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Suburban Fury explores how Moore morphed from a conservative housewife to a radical intent on laying the groundwork for an uprising in America by eliminating the president.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026
Early on, Anthropologie was a key supporter, helping lay the groundwork for broader wholesale expansion, which today accounts for 70 percent of the business and includes partners such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 28 Feb. 2026
The downward trend is happening a bit earlier than originally projected, Bell said on Wednesday, crediting public health groundwork that has helped rapidly identify cases and potential exposures and drive quarantine guidance.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for groundwork
Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Suburban Fury explores how Moore morphed from a conservative housewife to a radical intent on laying the groundwork for an uprising in America by eliminating the president.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026
Early on, Anthropologie was a key supporter, helping lay the groundwork for broader wholesale expansion, which today accounts for 70 percent of the business and includes partners such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 28 Feb. 2026
The downward trend is happening a bit earlier than originally projected, Bell said on Wednesday, crediting public health groundwork that has helped rapidly identify cases and potential exposures and drive quarantine guidance.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for groundwork
Recent Examples of Synonyms for groundwork
Noun
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Now, a new study suggests researchers globally may have built these plans on a shaky foundation.—
Marcos Magaña,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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But the 62-54 loss to Virginia Tech at Gas South Arena in Duluth was indicative of the fight that’s first-year coach Karen Blair has used as a foundation to rebuild the program.—
Stan Awtrey,
AJC.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC confirm damage to other Iranian naval bases.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
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Despite the attacks, Iranian leaders have vowed to continue fighting and have launched drones and missiles at Israel as well as US bases and energy infrastructure in nearby countries.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Everlane Double-Knit Half-Zip Pullover will undoubtedly serve as a cornerstone of your spring outfit rotation.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
4 Mar. 2026
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Born from the Revolution, the Fourth Amendment is a cornerstone of American governance.—
Amanda Cats-Baril,
Twin Cities,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In navigating the minefield that is 20th century and contemporary art, some names represent bedrock-like solidity and maximum liquidity in a world driven by passionate enthusiasts who see investment as the cherry on top.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
6 Mar. 2026
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Latinos are a plurality of California’s population and the bedrock of the Democratic Party.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Groundwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groundwork. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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