groundworkground‧work /ˈɡraʊndwɜːk $ -wɜːrk/ noun [uncountable] 
His speech laid the groundwork for independence. Much of the groundwork has already been done.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The groundwork for next year's conference has already begun.
- At this early stage the groundwork is also laid for an effective alliance between parents and professionals concerning treatment.
- By this stage, the groundwork necessary for manned missions has been accomplished.
- In short, we provide the groundwork, the teamwork and the network.
- It is a transitory work which lays the groundwork for themes and styles found in the theater sixty years later.
- It is vital that the United Nations should now act on that groundwork and drive the peacemaking process forward.
- Prosecution solicitors, Messrs Greene and Cowper, had done their groundwork well.
- The unprecedented federal proposal may have a better chance in a non-election year, building on the groundwork laid this year.
Longman Language Activatorto prepare for something that will happen in the future
to make plans or arrangements for something that will happen in the future, so that you will be ready when it happens: · I've been so busy that I've had no time to prepare.prepare for: · He only had a few hours to prepare for the interview.· People on the island are preparing for another storm.prepare to do something: · The company is preparing to expand its European network.
to do all the things you need to do to prepare for a special occasion or event: · We're looking forward to the trip, but there's so much to do to get ready.get ready for: · We've spent the last few days getting ready for Christmas.get ready to do something: · It seems the whole country is getting ready to welcome the visiting president.
to do all the things you must do in order to prepare for an important event: · We set a date of January 8 and began to make preparations.make preparations for: · We started to make preparations for the wedding about a year ago.make your preparations: · I made my preparations with great care.
if you do something in preparation for a planned event, you do something to make it possible or more likely to be successful: · Japan National Railways was split up in preparation for sale to private investors.· In preparation for Passover, all "unclean" items are removed from the house.
if a company or organization gears up to do something important or difficult, they prepare to do it by making changes, buying things that will be needed etc: gear up to do something: · Retailers are already gearing up to meet the Christmas rush.gear up for: · The company will shortly be gearing up for a major expansion.
also do the spadework British to do the work that has to be done before something else can happen: · All the necessary groundwork for the advertising campaign has already been done.· Although I did most of the spadework, I wasn't given any credit for it.
also mobilise British if a country or its army mobilizes , it prepares to fight a war: · Britain mobilized its forces.· While the US mobilizes, top-level diplomats are making a last attempt to reach a negotiated settlement.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY His speech laid the groundwork for independence. Much of the groundwork has already been done.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
His speech laid the groundwork for independence. Much of the groundwork has already been done.· Fox is clearly laying the groundwork for peace talks to restart.· They decided among themselves they needed to lay the groundwork.· After laying the groundwork, he announced this initiative in a broadcast address from the Elysée Palace on 16 September 1959.· The defense Monday seemed to lay the groundwork for an argument about damages.· What he is doing is laying the groundwork for the decisive moment and preparing his getaway.· Then the elite persuaded the newly elected mayor to appoint a committee to lay the groundwork for redevelopment.· The project is intended to lay the groundwork for a subsequent full-scale study.· Their task, simply put, was to lay the scientific groundwork for the manned landing missions that were then being planned.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
something that has to happen before an activity or plan can be successful: - Because Save the Children want to lay the foundations for a better future.
- He laid the foundations by cutting one percent off interest rates, scrapping special car tax, and boosting the housing industry.
- He said he hoped they had laid the foundations for peace - but admitted obstacles could lie ahead.
- One of my officials chairs the experts committee that laid the groundwork for this achievement.
- Progress in primary schools has laid the foundations for the drive to raise standards in secondary schools, announced last month.
- The defense Monday seemed to lay the groundwork for an argument about damages.
- Then the elite persuaded the newly elected mayor to appoint a committee to lay the groundwork for redevelopment.
- Will took advantage of this opportunity to lay the groundwork for his epitaph.
His speech laid the groundwork for independence. Much of the groundwork has already been done.