Business Planning Vocabulary

noun the foundation or basis on which something is built or developed

• The researchers laid the groundwork for their study by conducting a thorough literature review.
• Before we start the project, we need to do some groundwork to make sure we're prepared.
• Let's get the groundwork done before we dive into this.
• Building a strong relationship requires laying the groundwork of trust and communication.

adjective Initially can also be used as an adjective to describe something that is related to the beginning or first stage of something.

adverb Initially is an adverb that is used to describe something that happens at the beginning or at first.

• Initially, the project seemed promising but encountered numerous setbacks along the way.
• I was initially excited about the party, but now I'm not so sure.
• I was like, 'No way!' when I initially heard the news.
• The seedling initially struggled to grow, but eventually flourished into a beautiful flower.

verb to have a plan or purpose to do something

• I intend to submit my report by the end of the week.
• I intend to catch up on my favorite TV show tonight.
• I intend to chill with my friends this weekend.
• His words were carefully chosen to convey the message he intended.

noun A noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'term' is a noun referring to a period of time.

adjective An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun. In this case, 'long' is an adjective describing the duration of the term.

• It is important to consider the long term effects of this decision on our company's financial stability.
• Let's think about how this will affect us in the long run.
• We gotta think about the big picture, man. What's the long term plan?
• Planting seeds today will ensure a bountiful harvest in the long term.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea, in this case 'preliminary' can also be used as a noun to refer to something that precedes or prepares for something else.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case 'preliminary' describes something that comes before the main event or action.

• The preliminary findings of the study will be presented at the conference next week.
• I just got the preliminary results back from the lab, and they look promising!
• I heard some preliminary gossip about the new guy at work, but I'll wait to hear more before judging.
• The artist's preliminary sketches laid the foundation for his masterpiece painting.

noun the action or process of making ready or being made ready for use or consideration

adjective relating to the process of preparing something

• Proper preparation is key to success in any endeavor.
• I need to do some preparation before the big presentation tomorrow.
• I'm gonna do some prep before the party tonight.
• Life is a journey that requires constant preparation for the unknown.

noun a place or position where something begins or originates

• The research paper provides a solid starting point for further investigation.
• Let's use this book as our starting point for the project.
• This app is the bomb, it's the perfect starting point for planning your trip.
• The first chapter of the novel serves as a starting point for the protagonist's journey.

adjective not prepared or ready for a particular situation or task

• The team was unprepared for the sudden change in market trends.
• I was totally unprepared for the pop quiz today.
• I was caught with my pants down, totally unprepared for the meeting.
• She felt like a soldier going into battle unprepared, facing the challenges ahead.