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.
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
"Our study lays the groundwork for deriving the most accurate information possible about the silicon dioxide content of Mercury's surface from BepiColombo's measurements," said Christian Renggli.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 12, 2026
“We’re laying the groundwork for what’s probably going to be another fourth-quarter rally,” he said, adding, “I’m still pretty upbeat about the fundamentals.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
These initiatives ultimately laid the groundwork for current actions to create alternative supply chains.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
These three, it’s said, laid the groundwork on which the Fascist and Nazi philosophy was built.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
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.
