un·der·study
ˈən-dər-ˌstə-dē 
ˌən-dər-ˈstə-
understudied; understudying; understudies
: to study another actor's part in order to substitute in an emergency
: to prepare (a part or character) as understudy
also
: to prepare as understudy to (an actor)
un·der·study
ˈən-dər-ˌstə-dē
: one who is prepared to act another's part or take over another's duties
Examples of understudy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
But what has been unclear is what will happen to the intensity of these storms, which have tended to be understudied, Mann said.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 14 July 2025
Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
The closing track, notably the title track, prominently features none other than Swift’s understudy Sabrina Carpenter.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understudy
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.
Verb
However, the contract fell short of all that the union wanted to achieve and members continued to voice concerns about the demands placed on swings, or actors who understudy several ensemble roles, among other issues.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
But what has been unclear is what will happen to the intensity of these storms, which have tended to be understudied, Mann said.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 14 July 2025
Noun
The distancing often leads to a falling out between former presidents and their former understudies who didn’t quite land the big role.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
The closing track, notably the title track, prominently features none other than Swift’s understudy Sabrina Carpenter.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understudy
Cite this Entry
“Understudy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/understudy. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share