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Synonyms

groundwork

American  
[ground-wurk] / ˈgraʊndˌwɜrk /

noun

  1. foundation or basis.

    He laid the groundwork for an international conference.
groundwork British  
/ ˈɡraʊndˌwɜːk /

noun

  1. preliminary work as a foundation or basis

  2. the ground or background of a painting, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

First recorded in 1540–50; ground 1 + work

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.

Ackman has long been laying the groundwork for PSUS, having walked away from an earlier attempt in 2024 that underwhelmed investors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

“So we’re investing in and improving our core technologies, battery, powertrain, AI software, AI training, chip design, manufacturing, laying the groundwork for significantly increased manufacturing production.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026

Head says he learned laying the groundwork for successful action took time before any operational activity took place, and the same applies to cooperating with tech firms.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

But the principle — lay the groundwork, then count on timing and good fortune — could apply here.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Lawrence had laid the groundwork for a request that he finally submitted toward the end of the year.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Definitions 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.