lay the groundwork/foundation
idiom
: to provide the right conditions
We are laying the groundwork/foundation for additional research.
Examples of lay the groundwork/foundation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These early lessons in motion lay the groundwork for understanding physics concepts later in school.
—
Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
The move would lay the groundwork for those individuals to be deported.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025
This will also lay the foundation for your SEO (search engine optimization), SERM (search engine reputation management) and ORM (online reputation management) efforts.
—Andrey Insarov, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has turned the tide in relations, however, as last week saw the first high-level sit-down talks between U.S. and Russian officials in years, looking to lay the groundwork for Ukraine peace talks.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay the groundwork/foundation
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025
The move would lay the groundwork for those individuals to be deported.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025
This will also lay the foundation for your SEO (search engine optimization), SERM (search engine reputation management) and ORM (online reputation management) efforts.
—Andrey Insarov, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has turned the tide in relations, however, as last week saw the first high-level sit-down talks between U.S. and Russian officials in years, looking to lay the groundwork for Ukraine peace talks.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lay the groundwork/foundation
Video
Lay vs. Lie
Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.
Cite this Entry
“Lay the groundwork/foundation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lay%20the%20groundwork%2Ffoundation. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share