undergo

verb

un·​der·​go ˌən-dər-ˈgō 

underwent ˌən-dər-ˈwent  ; undergone ˌən-dər-ˈgȯn 

 also  -ˈgän

; undergoing ˌən-dər-ˈgō-iŋ 

-ˈgȯ(-)iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to submit to : endure

2

: to go through : experience

undergo a transformation

3

obsolete : undertake

4

obsolete : to partake of

Synonyms

• endure
• experience
• feel
• have
• know
• pass
• see
• suffer
• sustain
• taste
• witness

Examples of undergo in a Sentence

She will have to undergo an operation.

some people undergo a complete transformation while away at college

Recent Examples on the Web

Many singers have undergone vocal operations and returned to top-of-game performance — Miley Cyrus and Justin Timberlake among them — though long periods of postoperative vocal rest are obviously more financially tolerable for people who spent their junior-high years on Disney’s payroll. —Dessa Dessa Tanya Pérez Alec K. Redfearn, New York Times, 12 June 2024

The seemingly random attack landed Joshua Burton, 37, in an intensive care unit, having undergone two surgeries to relieve swelling around his brain. —Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 12 June 2024

By then, Humboldt had already undergone quite a transformation. —Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2024

Pepper previously underwent emergency surgery in May 2024, causing Roker to miss the Today show. —Marina Watts, Peoplemag, 11 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

undergo

verb

un·​der·​go ˌən-dər-ˈgō 

underwent

-ˈwent

; undergone -ˈgȯn 

 also  -ˈgän

; undergoing -ˈgō-iŋ 

1

: endure sense 2

undergo an operation

2

: to pass through : experience

undergoing a change