underlie

verb

un·​der·​lie ˌən-dər-ˈlī How to pronounce underlie (audio)
underlay ˌən-dər-ˈlā How to pronounce underlie (audio) ; underlain ˌən-dər-ˈlān How to pronounce underlie (audio) ; underlying ˌən-dər-ˈlī-iŋ How to pronounce underlie (audio)
Synonyms of underlienext

transitive verb

1
: to lie or be situated under
2
: to be at the basis of : form the foundation of : support
ideas underlying the revolution
3
: to exist as a claim or security superior and prior to (another)
4
archaic : to be subject or amenable to

Examples of underlie in a Sentence

A tile floor underlies the rug. The river is underlain by limestone. We discussed the principles that underlay their methods. A theme of revenge underlies much of her writing.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
In the case of pancreatic cancer, the National Institutes of Health funded the underlying biology for several decades before any private company tried to make a real medicine. — Craig Garthwaite, Fortune, 24 July 2026 The technology underlying chatbots such as Claude and ChatGPT uses patterns in data by analyzing vast quantities of digital text and video from the internet. — Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026 Unlike massive black-box AI systems, researchers can directly examine how the robot updates its beliefs, making the model a valuable platform for studying both human cognition and the mechanisms underlying language acquisition. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 23 July 2026 For starters, Alphabet's underlying operating earnings came up short. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for underlie

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of underlie was before the 12th century

Rhymes for underlie

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Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Underlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underlie. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

underlie

verb
un·​der·​lie ˌən-dər-ˈlī How to pronounce underlie (audio)
underlay -ˈlā How to pronounce underlie (audio) ; underlain -ˈlān How to pronounce underlie (audio) ; underlying -ˈlī-iŋ How to pronounce underlie (audio)
1
: to lie or be located under
2
: to form the foundation of : support
ideas underlying the revolt

More from Merriam-Webster on underlie

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for underlie

Nglish: Translation of underlie for Spanish Speakers

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