legwork
noun
leg·work
ˈleg-ˌwərk 
also ˈlāg-
: active physical work (as in gathering information) that forms the basis of more creative or mentally exacting work (such as writing a book)
Examples of legwork in a Sentence
I wrote the article myself, but my assistant gathered the information and did most of the other legwork.
Recent Examples on the Web
Costs for the architect and resident’s legwork aren’t public record, but the home’s mention in Alex Gorlin’s Creating the New American Townhouse speak to Petrarca’s remodeling influences.
—
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2025
Getting all of these elements right requires a lot of legwork upfront and continuous observation and adjustment.
—Vinod Sivagnanam, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
The addition of a boldface name to a doc title creates buzz and involves little to no legwork for the celebrity.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 8 Dec. 2024
Much of this legwork involves production, planning strategically, conducting market research, having a solid marketing and visibility plan, and setting systems, software, and automation in place.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legwork
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2025
Getting all of these elements right requires a lot of legwork upfront and continuous observation and adjustment.
—Vinod Sivagnanam, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
The addition of a boldface name to a doc title creates buzz and involves little to no legwork for the celebrity.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 8 Dec. 2024
Much of this legwork involves production, planning strategically, conducting market research, having a solid marketing and visibility plan, and setting systems, software, and automation in place.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legwork
Cite this Entry
“Legwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legwork. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
legwork
noun
leg·work
ˈleg-ˌwərk
: the work involved in gathering information
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share