groundwork

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A secret visit by national security adviser Henry Kissinger the year before laid the groundwork for the presidential trip, alongside reciprocal visits of table tennis teams termed "ping-pong diplomacy".

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

This visit could set the groundwork for future cooperation – or conflict – in the years ahead.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

Communities have been laying the groundwork for offshore energy projects for years.

From Salon • May 9, 2026

The companies in his delegation—including Hunt Oil, Repsol, Eni, Halliburton, Petroquímica de Venezuela and several trading firms—are expected to sign memorandums of understanding to lay the groundwork to operate in Venezuela.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

The question I ask is not ‘Were Regiomontanus and Hobbes right about mathematics?’ but ‘How did their understanding of mathematics help lay the groundwork for reliable scientific knowledge?’

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton