Groundwork
noun
The basic or most important parts that support or allow for the rest of a system or project to exist.
Before we can start building the house, we need to lay the groundwork first.
Often appears as...
- lay the groundwork
- groundwork for something
noun
The basic or most important parts that support or allow for the rest of a system or project to exist.
Before we can start building the house, we need to lay the groundwork first.
Often appears as...
- lay the groundwork
- groundwork for something
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Initial Effort
Groundwork refers to the initial work needed before a project can progress.
The committee did the groundwork for the festival, organizing venues and sponsors.
Pro Tip 2/3Foundation Metaphor
Think of groundwork as creating a strong base, similar to the foundation of a building.
Her study abroad experience laid the groundwork for a career in international relations.
Pro Tip 3/3Preparatory Phase
Groundwork is often used to describe the preparation phase of something larger or more complex.
Months of research laid the groundwork for the groundbreaking discovery.
Pro Tip 1/3Initial Effort
Groundwork refers to the initial work needed before a project can progress.
The committee did the groundwork for the festival, organizing venues and sponsors.
Pro Tip 2/3Foundation Metaphor
Think of groundwork as creating a strong base, similar to the foundation of a building.
Her study abroad experience laid the groundwork for a career in international relations.
Pro Tip 3/3Preparatory Phase
Groundwork is often used to describe the preparation phase of something larger or more complex.
Months of research laid the groundwork for the groundbreaking discovery.
Pro Tip 1/3Initial Effort
Groundwork refers to the initial work needed before a project can progress.
The committee did the groundwork for the festival, organizing venues and sponsors.
Pro Tip 2/3Foundation Metaphor
Think of groundwork as creating a strong base, similar to the foundation of a building.
Her study abroad experience laid the groundwork for a career in international relations.
Pro Tip 3/3Preparatory Phase
Groundwork is often used to describe the preparation phase of something larger or more complex.
Months of research laid the groundwork for the groundbreaking discovery.
Compare with
basisestablishmentfootfoundationframeworkinfrastructurepreparationunderpinning
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Video examples
Kathy Hannun: How to...
As each home switches over, a new kind of utility is taking hold -- a distributed utility, made up of homes exchanging renewable energy with the ground. This new infrastructure is simple, local and inexpensive to operate, and it represents a permanent and wholesale shift away from fossil fuels. The groundwork is being laid, so to speak,
Video examples
Rob Forbes: Ways of...
in which people get around and where pedestrian rights are protected. And I write a newsletter that goes out every week, and I wrote an article about this, and it got such enormous response that I realized that design, that common design, that's in the public area means a lot to people, and establishes kind of a groundwork and a dialog.
Video examples
History vs. Andrew...
their actual leaders? They didn't have time to properly supply themselves before the army came and forced them to march the Trail of Tears." "Now, hold on a minute. This was all Van Buren's doing after President Jackson left office." "But Mr. Jackson laid the groundwork and made sure the treaty was ratified.
Video examples
The genius of Marie...
laid the groundwork for our understanding of physics and chemistry, blazing trails in oncology, technology, medicine, and nuclear physics, to name a few. For good or ill, her discoveries in radiation launched a new era, unearthing some of science's greatest secrets.
Video examples
Rumaitha Al Busaidi:...
and protecting themselves. This is why I founded WomeX, a platform where we teach women from my community negotiation skills to nurture a new wave of girl bosses in the region. WomeX is on a mission to laying the groundwork to combating climate change
Video examples
The philosophy of...
meaning people who criticized others without having anything worthwhile to say. This usage eventually laid the groundwork for the modern meaning of the word “cynic:" a person who thinks everyone else is acting out of pure self-interest,
Video examples
What makes tuberculosis...
when scientists developed the BCG vaccine to battle TB. These developments laid the groundwork for the modern field of antibiotics– currently home to our most effective TB treatments. But, antibiotics fail to address a major diagnostic
Video examples
The rise and fall of the...
before Rome extended its influence to encircle the Mediterranean Sea, there was ancient Assyria. Considered by historians to be the first true empire, Assyria’s innovations laid the groundwork for every superpower that’s followed.
Video examples
What few people know...
and other working minorities, united to fight discriminatory hiring. In the process, they reshaped the Democratic Party; challenging its racist leadership, and laying the groundwork for an emerging civil rights coalition.
Video examples
Could Vaccines Help Save...
research provides the groundwork for developing those advanced approaches what we're trying to understand more about is how the lemur immune system
Video examples
Kathy Hannun: How to...
As each home switches over, a new kind of utility is taking hold -- a distributed utility, made up of homes exchanging renewable energy with the ground. This new infrastructure is simple, local and inexpensive to operate, and it represents a permanent and wholesale shift away from fossil fuels. The groundwork is being laid, so to speak,
Video examples
Rob Forbes: Ways of...
in which people get around and where pedestrian rights are protected. And I write a newsletter that goes out every week, and I wrote an article about this, and it got such enormous response that I realized that design, that common design, that's in the public area means a lot to people, and establishes kind of a groundwork and a dialog.
Video examples
History vs. Andrew...
their actual leaders? They didn't have time to properly supply themselves before the army came and forced them to march the Trail of Tears." "Now, hold on a minute. This was all Van Buren's doing after President Jackson left office." "But Mr. Jackson laid the groundwork and made sure the treaty was ratified.
Video examples
The genius of Marie...
laid the groundwork for our understanding of physics and chemistry, blazing trails in oncology, technology, medicine, and nuclear physics, to name a few. For good or ill, her discoveries in radiation launched a new era, unearthing some of science's greatest secrets.
Video examples
Rumaitha Al Busaidi:...
and protecting themselves. This is why I founded WomeX, a platform where we teach women from my community negotiation skills to nurture a new wave of girl bosses in the region. WomeX is on a mission to laying the groundwork to combating climate change
Video examples
The philosophy of...
meaning people who criticized others without having anything worthwhile to say. This usage eventually laid the groundwork for the modern meaning of the word “cynic:" a person who thinks everyone else is acting out of pure self-interest,
Video examples
What makes tuberculosis...
when scientists developed the BCG vaccine to battle TB. These developments laid the groundwork for the modern field of antibiotics– currently home to our most effective TB treatments. But, antibiotics fail to address a major diagnostic
Video examples
The rise and fall of the...
before Rome extended its influence to encircle the Mediterranean Sea, there was ancient Assyria. Considered by historians to be the first true empire, Assyria’s innovations laid the groundwork for every superpower that’s followed.
Video examples
What few people know...
and other working minorities, united to fight discriminatory hiring. In the process, they reshaped the Democratic Party; challenging its racist leadership, and laying the groundwork for an emerging civil rights coalition.
Video examples
Could Vaccines Help Save...
research provides the groundwork for developing those advanced approaches what we're trying to understand more about is how the lemur immune system
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Chris Hadfield
Canadian Astronaut
Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It's about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others' success, and then standing back and letting them shine.
Quote examples
Big Freedia
American Musician
I still feel like there are so many things that I have to do to really become an icon. I've done a lot and laid down a lot of groundwork, but there's so much more work to be done. There's a lot more that I want to do, LGBTQ centers that I want to open. After I leave my legacy, then I will be that icon.
Quote examples
Finn Wittrock
American Actor
I've learned 90 percent of what I know from watching and listening to actors. A good leading actor is the rock of the show. Their energy and their tone really sets the groundwork for how everything is going to work. I've been lucky to deal with stars who are very giving and generous.
Quote examples
George Packer
American Novelist
The Assassins' Gate' is a very tightly controlled story of the ideas that led to the war and the consequences of those ideas in Iraq, and there is no doubt about where it is going and what kind of groundwork is being laid.
Quote examples
Jeremy Wade
Fishing is quite a good metaphor for life. You do your prep, you do your thinking, you put your bait out, and you wait, confident that you've done your groundwork. But a lot of life is luck.
Quote examples
Jason Blum
American Producer
The Purge' is really about America's crazy relationship to guns and guns gone wild, essentially, and it kind of laid the groundwork for 'Get Out.
Quote examples
Benson Henderson
American Mixed Martial Artist
You lay the groundwork, stay on the grind, and then eventually you get those big huge national deals with TV stations that are seen worldwide.
Quote examples
Laurence Sterne
Irish Novelist
Lessons of wisdom have the most power over us when they capture the heart through the groundwork of a story, which engages the passions.
Quote examples
Eyvind Johnson
Swedish Author
A writer's work often reflects what he or she has been exposed to in life; experiences which are the groundwork of a poem or a story.
Quote examples
Jimmy Connors
American Tennis Player
I was raised by two women, and that laid the groundwork for the way I treat 'em: with the utmost respect and admiration.
Quote examples
Chris Hadfield
Canadian Astronaut
Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It's about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others' success, and then standing back and letting them shine.
Quote examples
Big Freedia
American Musician
I still feel like there are so many things that I have to do to really become an icon. I've done a lot and laid down a lot of groundwork, but there's so much more work to be done. There's a lot more that I want to do, LGBTQ centers that I want to open. After I leave my legacy, then I will be that icon.
Quote examples
Finn Wittrock
American Actor
I've learned 90 percent of what I know from watching and listening to actors. A good leading actor is the rock of the show. Their energy and their tone really sets the groundwork for how everything is going to work. I've been lucky to deal with stars who are very giving and generous.
Quote examples
George Packer
American Novelist
The Assassins' Gate' is a very tightly controlled story of the ideas that led to the war and the consequences of those ideas in Iraq, and there is no doubt about where it is going and what kind of groundwork is being laid.
Quote examples
Jeremy Wade
Fishing is quite a good metaphor for life. You do your prep, you do your thinking, you put your bait out, and you wait, confident that you've done your groundwork. But a lot of life is luck.
Quote examples
Jason Blum
American Producer
The Purge' is really about America's crazy relationship to guns and guns gone wild, essentially, and it kind of laid the groundwork for 'Get Out.
Quote examples
Benson Henderson
American Mixed Martial Artist
You lay the groundwork, stay on the grind, and then eventually you get those big huge national deals with TV stations that are seen worldwide.
Quote examples
Laurence Sterne
Irish Novelist
Lessons of wisdom have the most power over us when they capture the heart through the groundwork of a story, which engages the passions.
Quote examples
Eyvind Johnson
Swedish Author
A writer's work often reflects what he or she has been exposed to in life; experiences which are the groundwork of a poem or a story.
Quote examples
Jimmy Connors
American Tennis Player
I was raised by two women, and that laid the groundwork for the way I treat 'em: with the utmost respect and admiration.
Example 1 of 10
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