underlying
adjective
un·der·ly·ing
ˌən-dər-ˈlī-iŋ 
1
a
: lying beneath or below
the underlying rock is shale
b
: basic, fundamental
an investigation of the underlying issues
2
: evident only on close inspection : implicit
3
: anterior and prior in claim
underlying mortgage
4
: of or being present in deep structure
underlying word order
Examples of underlying in a Sentence
the ocean and the underlying rock
the underlying differences between democracy and dictatorship
Recent Examples on the Web
Many earlier studies linking weight cycling to cardiovascular and metabolic risk failed to adequately control for confounding factors including age, underlying health status and the cumulative burden of obesity over time.
—
Allison Palmer
updated June 13, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
Women in their 30s and 40s experiencing persistent fatigue, mood changes, sleep disruption, irritability, anxiety or digestive issues may want to ask specifically whether perimenopause could be the underlying cause before accepting a diagnosis of anxiety, depression or a thyroid condition.
—Allison Palmer
updated June 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026
Earlier studies that appeared to show this failed to adequately account for age, underlying health conditions and the cumulative weight burden on the body over time.
—Allison Palmer
updated June 13, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
Fable 5, which was made available to the public, uses the same underlying technology as Mythos but includes safeguards for high-risk areas such as cybersecurity and biology.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlying
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Allison Palmer
updated June 13, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
Women in their 30s and 40s experiencing persistent fatigue, mood changes, sleep disruption, irritability, anxiety or digestive issues may want to ask specifically whether perimenopause could be the underlying cause before accepting a diagnosis of anxiety, depression or a thyroid condition.
—Allison Palmer
updated June 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026
Earlier studies that appeared to show this failed to adequately account for age, underlying health conditions and the cumulative weight burden on the body over time.
—Allison Palmer
updated June 13, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
Fable 5, which was made available to the public, uses the same underlying technology as Mythos but includes safeguards for high-risk areas such as cybersecurity and biology.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlying
Cite this Entry
“Underlying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underlying. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
underlying
adjective
un·der·ly·ing
ˌən-dər-ˌlī-iŋ
1
: lying under or below
the underlying rock
Medical Definition
underlying
adjective
un·der·ly·ing
-ˌlī-iŋ
: serving as a basis or cause (as of secondary symptoms)
the underlying brain malformation that caused the hydrocephalus—R. M. Henig
R. M. HenigLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
