lay a foundation

verb

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lay, foundation.

“You should lay a foundation, even if you can't finish the project.”

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Meanings

verblay a foundation (third-person singular simple present lays a foundation, present participle laying a foundation, simple past and past participle laid a foundation)

present singular third person lays a foundation · participle present laying a foundation · participle past laid a foundation · past laid a foundation

  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lay, foundation.
  2. lawTo elicit information from a witness to show that the witness has knowledge of a matter before the witness testifies to the matter itself.

    In order to lay a foundation for the witness to describe the murder, the prosecutor first had to show that the witness was present when the murder occurred.

  3. figurativelyTo make a start.

    You should lay a foundation, even if you can't finish the project.

Origin

Figurative senses from the idea of laying a foundation as the first step in constructing a building.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

lay a foundation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20a%20foundation

MLA

“lay a foundation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20a%20foundation. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lay a foundation,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20a%20foundation.

Source: lay a foundation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.