spadework
noun
spade·work
ˈspād-ˌwərk 
1
: work done with a spade
2
: the hard plain preliminary drudgery in an undertaking
Examples of spadework in a Sentence
She had her assistants do the spadework in preparation for the trial.
Recent Examples on the Web
In this peacemaking effort, the United States would have to do almost all the spadework.
—
Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024
Indeed, many diplomatic agreements are the product of several administrations, with one president benefiting from the spadework of predecessors.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2023
But the day-to-day spadework is already underway.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2021
Early spadework for the new batch of projects also dates back to the City of Cleveland’s 2004 Waterfront District Plan.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 26 Feb. 2022
This was Biden’s third such visit to a House battleground in eight days, as the White House has married the president’s summer sales pitch for his infrastructure plans in Congress to Democrats’ political spadework ahead of the 2022 election.
—Eli Stokols Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2021
The rationale was that this laborious spadework brought loamy topsoil down to subsoil level to promote deep rooting, relieved soil compaction and allowed the gardener to improve both sandy and clay soils by adding compost.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 14 July 2021
It’s vital political spadework ahead of next year’s midterm elections, which traditionally favor the party out of the White House.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2021
That spadework laid the groundwork for the current suit.
—Robert T. Garrett, Dallas News, 3 Feb. 2021
Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2024
Indeed, many diplomatic agreements are the product of several administrations, with one president benefiting from the spadework of predecessors.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2023
But the day-to-day spadework is already underway.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2021
Early spadework for the new batch of projects also dates back to the City of Cleveland’s 2004 Waterfront District Plan.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 26 Feb. 2022
This was Biden’s third such visit to a House battleground in eight days, as the White House has married the president’s summer sales pitch for his infrastructure plans in Congress to Democrats’ political spadework ahead of the 2022 election.
—Eli Stokols Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2021
The rationale was that this laborious spadework brought loamy topsoil down to subsoil level to promote deep rooting, relieved soil compaction and allowed the gardener to improve both sandy and clay soils by adding compost.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 14 July 2021
It’s vital political spadework ahead of next year’s midterm elections, which traditionally favor the party out of the White House.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2021
That spadework laid the groundwork for the current suit.
—Robert T. Garrett, Dallas News, 3 Feb. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spadework.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1778, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near spadework
Cite this Entry
“Spadework.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spadework. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
spadework
noun
spade·work
ˈspād-ˌwərk
1
: work done with the spade
2
: the hard plain work that must be done at the beginning of a project
More from Merriam-Webster on spadework
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for spadework
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share