lay a/the foundation

idiom

1
: to create a usually stone or concrete structure that supports a building from underneath
2
: to provide something (such as an idea, a principle, or a fact) from which another thing develops or can develop
Her early research laid the foundation for many important medical discoveries.

Examples of lay a/the foundation in a Sentence

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These speaking gigs lay the foundation for obtaining paying speaking gigs, building upon the speaker’s past performance. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025 The idea is to lay the foundation for new habits without putting an undue amount of pressure on yourself. Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2025 The project is part of a NASA program that utilizes public-private partnerships to lay the foundation for a sustained human lunar presence. Jay R. Jordan, Axios, 7 Mar. 2025 If Charles Dolan had never taken an interest in media, other business leaders and entrepreneurs would have found a way to harness the power of technology and the arts to lay the foundation for the pay television marketplace. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 31 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for lay a/the foundation

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Cite this Entry

“Lay a/the foundation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lay%20a%2Fthe%20foundation. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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