groundwork
Americannoun
noun
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preliminary work as a foundation or basis
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the ground or background of a painting, etc
Usage
What is groundwork? Groundwork is a foundation or basis. Groundwork can describe an actual plot of land for a building or construct, but it can also be used figuratively to describe the beginnings of a negotiation or agreement. Example: I’m laying the groundwork for a new partnership right now.
Etymology
Origin of groundwork
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Acquiring Grain Management’s 800 MHz spectrum gives Starlink’s mobile ambitions a major boost, providing the groundwork for cellular networks.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote is laying the groundwork for a $15 billion oil refinery near Lamu Town on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
So while we acknowledge and applaud the groundwork put in by those early jetsetters, this week we're looking at the best British exports since the turn of the century.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
They could also help lay the groundwork for future networks of controllable spin oscillators, potentially opening new possibilities for spin-based technologies.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 24, 2026
“I reckon I can. I’ll describe your hangdog look and shoeless state for her too. Lay you a good solid groundwork for some groveling.”
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
