underpin

verb

un·​der·​pin ˌən-dər-ˈpin How to pronounce underpin (audio)
underpinned; underpinning; underpins

transitive verb

1
: support, substantiate
underpin a thesis with evidence
2
: to form part of, strengthen, or replace the foundation of
underpin a structure
underpin a sagging building

Examples of underpin in a Sentence

a wall underpinned by metal beams the central beliefs that underpin a free society
Recent Examples on the Web Hungary’s ties with Iran and China could undermine the calculation underpinning its combative relations with the Biden administration — that Mr. Trump will win in November and usher in a new era of hostility to Ukraine and friendship with Mr. Orban. Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 The principles that underpin running them are still the same: books are attractively and intelligently presented in what is predominantly a bookstore, getting the right books for your customers, and making sure customers are your focus. Byphil Wahba, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 Microsoft has added its AI assistant, Copilot, which runs on the technology that underpins ChatGPT, to its suite of products, including Word, PowerPoint, Teams and Outlook, software that many businesses use worldwide. Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 What’s sometimes lost in the churn, though, is an exploration of the economics that currently underpin the development of GenAI infrastructure, in particular, the supply and demand imbalance of these investments. Rodrigo Madanes, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Our productivity programme is progressing well and the savings from this will enable us to increase investment across the business, underpin operational leverage and support our evolution into a more agile organisation. Royston Wild, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 There's an odd lack of balance underpinning this last season: Three hours spent on the build-up to the showdown with the Night King, but Daenerys decides to annihilate King's Landing on what feels like a spur-of-the-moment decision. Darren Franich, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 That supported expectations that the Bank of Japan may soon make a shift in its longstanding ultra-lax monetary policy, which is underpinned by a minus 0.1% benchmark interest rate. Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 27 Feb. 2024 The product descriptions, targeted at state security clientele, at times use wartime language to describe a data-extraction mission underpinned by extreme threats to China’s national security. Aaron Schaffer, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underpin.' 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

1522, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underpin was in 1522

Dictionary Entries Near underpin

Cite this Entry

“Underpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underpin. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

underpin

verb
un·​der·​pin -ˈpin How to pronounce underpin (audio)
1
: to give support to
underpin an argument with evidence
2
: to form part of, strengthen, or replace the foundation of
underpin a structure

More from Merriam-Webster on underpin

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