lay the groundwork

verb

To create a foundation; to provide the basics or fundamentals.

“The introductory mathematics courses will lay the groundwork for all your subsequent engineering studies.”

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Meanings

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

present singular third person lays the groundwork · participle present laying the groundwork · participle past laid the groundwork · past laid the groundwork

  1. figurativelyidiomaticTo create a foundation; to provide the basics or fundamentals.

    The introductory mathematics courses will lay the groundwork for all your subsequent engineering studies.

    2 more examples

    Arrests and prosecutions intensified after Isis captured Mosul in June, but the groundwork had been laid by an earlier amendment to Jordan’s anti-terrorism law. It is estimated that 2,000 Jordanians have fought and 250 of them have died in Syria – making them the third largest Arab contingent in Isis after Saudi Arabians and Tunisians.

    2014 November 27, Ian Black, “Courts kept busy as Jordan works to crush support for Isis”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 07 Apr 2023

    The FBI launched a phony investigation under false pretenses to prevent one candidate from winning the 2016 election and to lay the groundwork for his removal if he did.

    2023 July 21, Michael Anton, “The Pessimistic Case for the Future”, in Compact, archived from the original on 26 Mar 2024

Translations

Finnish pohjustaa, luoda perusta
  • pohjustaaTo provide the basics
  • luoda perustaTo provide the basics
French préparer le terrain
  • préparer le terrainTo provide the basics
German Grunstein legen, Grundstein legen
  • Grunstein legenTo provide the basics
  • Grundstein legenTo provide the basics
Greek προετοιμάζω το έδαφος
  • προετοιμάζω το έδαφος (proetoimázo to édafos)To provide the basics
Italian preparare il terreno
  • preparare il terrenoTo provide the basics
Polish kłaść podwaliny, położyć podwaliny
  • kłaść podwalinyTo provide the basics
  • położyć podwalinyTo provide the basics
Portuguese preparar o terreno
  • preparar o terrenoTo provide the basics
Russian заложи́ть основу, заложи́ть фунда́мент
  • заложи́ть основу (založítʹ osnovu)To provide the basics
  • заложи́ть фунда́мент (založítʹ fundáment)To provide the basics
Spanish sentar las bases, preparar el terreno
  • sentar las basesTo provide the basics
  • preparar el terrenoTo provide the basics
  • allanar el caminoTo provide the basics
  • echar los cimientosTo provide the basics
  • realizar el anteproyectoTo provide the basics
  • ejecutar el anteproyectoTo provide the basics
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: lay the groundwork on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.