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
At Middle School 50 in Brooklyn, where all eighth graders take algebra, teachers rewrote lesson plans for sixth- and seventh-grade students to lay the groundwork for the class.
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Troy Closson, New York Times, 22 May 2024
Why sacrifice thousands of lives, Palestinian and Israeli alike, but stop short of a definitive end to the war that would lay the groundwork for rebuilding Gaza?
—Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 21 May 2024
There are two transparent purposes of these: to intimidate the justices into trimming their sails for fear of more criticism, and (when that fails) to delegitimize their decisions and lay the groundwork for radical changes to destroy the Court in its longstanding form.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 17 May 2024
One recent study suggests that some PWIs can be considered just as viable as a choice for Black students to lay the foundation for a successful future and overall, a social safe haven.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 15 May 2024
This maternal line has helped lay the foundation for Kaifer’s culinary success.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2024
The Commission aimed to establish a truthful record of what apartheid had done, present this truth to the South African people, and thereby lay the groundwork for a reconciliation among contending segments of the population so the country could heal.
—Mark Hertsgaard, TIME, 7 May 2024
This helps lay the foundation for a positive experience for everyone.
—Martine Thompson, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2024
Reading readiness is a crucial aspect of early childhood development, encompassing a range of skills and experiences that lay the foundation for future academic success.
—Plaza De La Raza, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Troy Closson, New York Times, 22 May 2024
Why sacrifice thousands of lives, Palestinian and Israeli alike, but stop short of a definitive end to the war that would lay the groundwork for rebuilding Gaza?
—Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 21 May 2024
There are two transparent purposes of these: to intimidate the justices into trimming their sails for fear of more criticism, and (when that fails) to delegitimize their decisions and lay the groundwork for radical changes to destroy the Court in its longstanding form.
—Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 17 May 2024
One recent study suggests that some PWIs can be considered just as viable as a choice for Black students to lay the foundation for a successful future and overall, a social safe haven.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 15 May 2024
This maternal line has helped lay the foundation for Kaifer’s culinary success.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2024
The Commission aimed to establish a truthful record of what apartheid had done, present this truth to the South African people, and thereby lay the groundwork for a reconciliation among contending segments of the population so the country could heal.
—Mark Hertsgaard, TIME, 7 May 2024
This helps lay the foundation for a positive experience for everyone.
—Martine Thompson, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2024
Reading readiness is a crucial aspect of early childhood development, encompassing a range of skills and experiences that lay the foundation for future academic success.
—Plaza De La Raza, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lay the groundwork/foundation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Lay the groundwork/foundation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lay%20the%20groundwork%2Ffoundation. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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