Word
groundwork
Phoneticsground·work, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɡɹaʊndˌwɝk/
UK/ɡɹˈaʊndwɜːk/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the early work or preparation that you do to make sure a future plan is successful. It is like building the base of a house before you start the walls.
n. preparatory work that serves as a foundation for a subsequent project or development. Often used in professional or academic contexts to describe the initial phase of research or negotiation.
Examples
“The team is doing the groundwork for the new marketing campaign.”
“Years of careful diplomatic groundwork were necessary before the two nations could finally sign the peace treaty.”
“By establishing a robust legal framework early on, the committee laid the groundwork for a decade of sustainable urban development and transparent governance.”
Examples
simple
“The team is doing the groundwork for the new marketing campaign.”
contextual
“Years of careful diplomatic groundwork were necessary before the two nations could finally sign the peace treaty.”
complex
“By establishing a robust legal framework early on, the committee laid the groundwork for a decade of sustainable urban development and transparent governance.”
Usage
Commonly used with the verb 'lay' ('to lay the groundwork').
Pitfall
They laid the groundworks for the project
They laid the groundwork for the project
Groundwork is uncountable; learners often incorrectly pluralize it when thinking of multiple preparatory tasks.
Real-World Examples
“Their research in animals laid the groundwork for a new drug that addresses the conditions’s root cause.” “This, we come to understand, is Dr Hans Asperger, whose research in the Vienna children’s hospital in the 1930s laid the groundwork for the understanding of autism.” Etymology
From ground + work.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/groundwork