groundwork

American  

[ground-wurk] / ˈgraʊndˌwɜrk /

noun

1. foundation or basis.

   He laid the groundwork for an international conference.

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groundwork British  

/ ˈɡraʊndˌwɜːk /

noun

1. preliminary work as a foundation or basis

2. the ground or background of a painting, etc

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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

Nike provided a disappointing sales outlook, and the quick harsh reaction in the stock market might be laying the groundwork for a lucrative long-term investment.

From MarketWatch

The law laid the groundwork for Russia’s heavily censored “Red Web” that now entirely prohibits many foreign social-media platforms.

From The Wall Street Journal

At the conference Monday, Chevron’s Wirth said more groundwork was needed to attract investment by major U.S. oil companies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Those discussions laid the groundwork for an abrupt reversal more than 7,000 miles away in Florida.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The research and proof-of-concept validates the exciting potential of quantum batteries to achieve rapid, scalable charging and energy storage at room temperature, laying the groundwork for next-gen energy solutions," Dr. Quach said.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• preparation