laying the foundation
Olivia Hensley
Updated on June 22, 2026
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.
What’s another way to say lay the foundation?
establish; found; raise; lay the foundations; ground; tune; settle; colonize; open up; prospect; develop; explore; scan; colonise.
How do you say lay the foundation?
lay the foundation of
bring about.bring off.deliver.do the trick.give rise to.produce.put across.put through.
Why do we lay foundation?
A good foundation keeps moisture out, resists movement, and insulates against the cold. In areas where there is a lot of ground moisture, such as the Pacific Northwest, concrete foundations are a must. A good foundation usually requires a poured concrete footing and foundation walls — all reinforced by steel.
Is it laid or layed?
Although “layed” is an extremely popular variant spelling of the past tense of transitive “lay,” “laid” is the traditional spelling in all contexts. If your boss decides to lay you off, you are laid off. The hen laid an egg. You laid down the law.
What does laid the groundwork mean?
Definition of lay the groundwork/foundation
: to provide the right conditions We are laying the groundwork/foundation for additional research.
What does it mean to have a strong foundation?
The components of a strong foundation are: Strong, flood-damage- resistant, and decay-resistant materials (reinforced concrete or preservative treated wood). Elements sized for appropriate structure loads and local soil conditions.
What does to establish mean?
Definition of establish
transitive verb. 1 : to institute (something, such as a law) permanently by enactment or agreement. 2 obsolete : settle sense 7. 3a : to make firm or stable. b : to introduce and cause to grow and multiply establish grass on pasturelands.
What is the verb of foundation?
/ (faʊnd) / verb. (tr) to bring into being, set up, or establish (something, such as an institution, society, etc) (tr) to build or establish the foundation or basis of. (also intr; foll by on or upon) to have a basis (in); depend (on)
What is another word for prepare?
In this page you can discover 96 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for prepare, like: get-ready, arrange, set for, make preparations, put in order, adapt, serve, lay the foundations, equip, ready and lay in.
What’s another way to say set the stage?
hold out a possibility/prospect/promise etc.
What’s another word for groundwork?
In this page you can discover 28 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for groundwork, like: foundation, preliminaries, basis, base, cornerstone, fundamentals, planning, practice, root, source and training.
What is the purpose of footings?
Footings are an important part of foundation construction. They are typically made of concrete with rebar reinforcement that has been poured into an excavated trench. The purpose of footings is to support the foundation and prevent settling. Footings are especially important in areas with troublesome soils.
Is laying or lying correct?
You lie down, but you lay something down. Lie does not require a direct object. Lay requires a direct object. The same rule applies to laying and lying (not lieing—beware of spelling).
Is it lying or laying on the floor?
“lying,” in addition to their similar spellings and sounds, is that they also both refer to something being in a horizontal position. But the big difference is that while “lying” doesn’t need an object, “laying” does. “Laying” means putting something into such a position.
Is laid in bed correct?
No, the verb you want is not “to lay,” but “to lie” (meaning “to rest/recline in a horizontal position”) and the past tense is “lay”: “I lay in bed ” And the “-ing” form is “lying”: “I was lying in bed ” (so “I was laying in bed” is incorrect).