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.
However, an earlier excavation across the road had uncovered items from the Roman period and MSDC's archaeological adviser previously recommended that no groundwork should take place until a programme of archaeological monitoring was approved.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Unified letter shows that the school board was laying the legal groundwork to dismiss Carvalho for cause, which would have deprived him of contractual severance payments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
The question is whether negotiations can finally reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lay the groundwork for nuclear talks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
"Our findings are laying the groundwork for an observation we'll get in the next couple of years," Schmerr said.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 3, 2026
I figured lying was laying a good groundwork for that.
From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan
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.
