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foundation

foundation

292 3.5
The basic ideas and facts that support a belief, plan, or system
  • noun
  • /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
: base
  • You have built a sturdy foundation in this relationship.
  • provide a foundation
  • lay the foundation
  • build a foundation

So it's just like that that foundation isn't strong enough.

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Examples

  • Such positive support from educators may set the foundation to support positive adjustment in school.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The 30 issues identified became the foundation of the questionnaire used in the study.

    Academic text (2012)
  • But that decision had no foundation, no legal foundation.

  • I believe that pain is the foundation for a lot of things.

  • We want to build on that foundation and to do better.

  • news honestly acquired and honestly shared is the foundation of this business

  • This gives me a strong foundation to skyrocket my growth.

  • You see, Prestige was built on a foundation of honor and character.

  • Educators currently lack a strong, research-based foundation upon which to guide their intervention decisions.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The success of any project relies on a strong set of foundations to guide its development.

Synonyms

basis
vsfoundation
∞ 3.0

The main support, reason, or way that something happens

refers to the complete set of underlying principles and facts
principle
vsfoundation
580 3.8

A basic idea or law that explains how something works

is the full base of multiple such laws and supporting facts
base
vsfoundation
572 2.8

The main part or ingredient from which something is made

covers the whole body of basic supporting principles and facts
grounds
vsfoundation
212 3.2

Reasons that justify a decision or action

is the complete set of underlying principles and supporting facts
basics
vsfoundation
138 1.0

Important facts or skills you learn first in a subject

is the broader set of underlying principles beyond initial learning
foundation of
vsfoundation
116 3.5

A basic idea that people build other things on

is the broader set of supporting principles rather than a single base
cornerstone
vsfoundation
49 5.3

A very important idea or part that something depends on

is the wider set of basic principles supporting the whole
groundwork
vsfoundation
45 3.8

Work done first to make something possible

is the set of underlying principles rather than the initial actions
cornerstone of
vsfoundation
41 4.2

An important idea or thing that other things depend on

is the broader collection of ideas and facts beneath it
building block
vsfoundation
39 3.0

A basic part that forms the base of something larger

is the complete supporting system rather than one component
fundamentals
vsfoundation
  • Specialized
31 3.0

Basic ideas you learn first when studying a subject

is the broader body of principles and facts behind those elements
basic principle
vsfoundation
31 2.7

An important rule or idea that forms the base for other knowledge

is the overall set of rules and supporting ideas for a system
axiom
vsfoundation
23 7.5

A basic statement accepted as true and used as a starting point for reasoning

is the larger body of starting ideas and factual support
bedrock
vsfoundation
21 4.2

The basic principles that support a system, idea, or group

is the overall group of ideas and facts giving support
fundamental principle
vsfoundation
17 4.1

A basic rule that other ideas come from

is the wider collection of such rules and supporting facts
first principles
vsfoundation
  • Formal
14 5.8

Basic ideas and facts that form the foundation of a subject

is the larger framework made from many such root truths
underpinning
vsfoundation
  • Formal
8 5.0

A basic support or principle that something depends on

is the broader set of ideas and facts that rely on that support
basic assumption
vsfoundation
4 3.3

A simple idea or belief that people accept without proof and that supports an argument

is the wider set of basic ideas and facts behind the argument
fundament
vsfoundation
1 9.4

A basic idea that something is built on

is the full set of basic principles and supporting facts
principia
vsfoundation
  • Formal
1 9.9

Basic ideas and rules of a subject

is the wider set of ideas and facts behind those originals
footstone
vsfoundation
  • Archaic
7.7

A basic idea or belief that other things depend on

is the larger collection of supporting ideas and factual basis

Antonyms

64 7.2

A wrong belief that comes from bad reasoning

Lack of deep thought or careful attention

Compounds

116 3.5

A basic idea that people build other things on

An independent United States agency that gives money to support research and education in science and engineering

private foundation
  • Specialized
6 4.8

A charity that gets most of its money from one person or company

3 4.5

A stone placed at a building's start during a ceremony, often with the date and founder's name

A piece of clothing women wear under dresses to shape or support their body

An organization that gives money to help people, groups, or schools

raft foundation
  • Specialized
6.7

A large concrete slab under a building that spreads its weight to stop sinking on soft ground

How Fundamental

principle
580 3.8
foundation
292 3.5
basis
∞ 3.0
fact
∞ 1.0
detail
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

foundation singular
foundations plural

Morphology

foundation = found (transparent) = found + ation

The noun is a regular nominalization of the verb 'found' with '-ation', yielding 'the act/result of founding' which maps easily to 'basis' or 'established principles'.

Etymology

Foundation originally means a 'base' or 'bottom', which is why we use it for the basic principles or ideas that support something. So, the foundation of an argument or theory are the main facts and ideas it rests on.