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
Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2024
Since May 2023, she’s been starring as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in the national touring company of Wicked, having previously understudied the role a few years prior.
—Julie Tremaine, Peoplemag, 19 Nov. 2023
Adding to all the backstage drama is Clea (Rebecca Liddiard), the props manager who’s angling to find a way for her girlfriend, Rachel (Vinessa Antoine), who’s understudying role of Salome, to get her shot in the spotlight.
—Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2023
Then, as rehearsals continue, there’s a palpable spark between Jeanine and Luke (Douglas Smith), an old friend who is understudying the role of John the Baptist.
—Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2023
The premise was seemingly simple — how blackness operates in modern and contemporary art — yet the question of how Blackness is and has been represented was understudied until the exhibition.
—Kate Guadagnino, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023
Law enforcement lobbied against the proposal, arguing that the drugs were understudied and could lead to a surge in crime.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
The actor/singer also took on three lead parts in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in 2014, understudying for the roles of Gerry Goffin, Don Kirshner and Barry Mann.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 18 Aug. 2023
Perhaps social media influencer Kimber (Ashley Park) or understudy Jonathan (Jason Veasey), boyfriend to Oliver’s assistant, Howard (Michael Cyril Creighton)?
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Aug. 2023
Lauren Huff, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2024
Harris’s advisers hope a strong performance on the world stage will help blunt questions about her ability to perform in the nation’s top job — an important requirement for the understudy to the oldest president in U.S. history.
—Souad Mekhennet, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024
But Mann’s familiarity with some of the intricacies on both sides of the ball gives him the slight upper hand in being LaMelo’s understudy.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2024
Leaving the close quarters, the Bruin understudies were directed to the stands to watch the varsity workout unfolding with precision from the first day, nonstop chatter from players on the court and a brisk tempo that reignited Walton.
—Scott Howard-Cooper., Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024
Over and over and over again, the Democrats have been told that the country dislikes their candidate, disdains his presidency, and loathes his understudy — and, in response, the party has decided to keep everything exactly the same.
—Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023
Within 10 years, after studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Hopkins was serving as an understudy for Sir Laurence Olivier at London’s Royal National Theatre.
—Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 21 Jan. 2024
Peluso first gained attention in the theater world as an understudy covering the Balladeer in the 2004 revival of Assassins, Louis and Nicolas in Elton John's Lestat, and three leading male roles in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2023
As Baltimore’s understudy, Likely has one simple goal: be trustworthy.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2024
Verb
Schumer continued by saying that women’s bodies are historically understudied and urged her fans to read All in Her Head by Elizabeth Comen to learn more.
—Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2024
Since May 2023, she’s been starring as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in the national touring company of Wicked, having previously understudied the role a few years prior.
—Julie Tremaine, Peoplemag, 19 Nov. 2023
Adding to all the backstage drama is Clea (Rebecca Liddiard), the props manager who’s angling to find a way for her girlfriend, Rachel (Vinessa Antoine), who’s understudying role of Salome, to get her shot in the spotlight.
—Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2023
Then, as rehearsals continue, there’s a palpable spark between Jeanine and Luke (Douglas Smith), an old friend who is understudying the role of John the Baptist.
—Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2023
The premise was seemingly simple — how blackness operates in modern and contemporary art — yet the question of how Blackness is and has been represented was understudied until the exhibition.
—Kate Guadagnino, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023
Law enforcement lobbied against the proposal, arguing that the drugs were understudied and could lead to a surge in crime.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
The actor/singer also took on three lead parts in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in 2014, understudying for the roles of Gerry Goffin, Don Kirshner and Barry Mann.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 18 Aug. 2023
Perhaps social media influencer Kimber (Ashley Park) or understudy Jonathan (Jason Veasey), boyfriend to Oliver’s assistant, Howard (Michael Cyril Creighton)?
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Aug. 2023
Noun
From 1959 to 1960, Harper, who had studied with Lee Strasberg, served as Paul Newman's understudy in Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth, directed by Elia Kazan on Broadway.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2024
Harris’s advisers hope a strong performance on the world stage will help blunt questions about her ability to perform in the nation’s top job — an important requirement for the understudy to the oldest president in U.S. history.
—Souad Mekhennet, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024
But Mann’s familiarity with some of the intricacies on both sides of the ball gives him the slight upper hand in being LaMelo’s understudy.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2024
Leaving the close quarters, the Bruin understudies were directed to the stands to watch the varsity workout unfolding with precision from the first day, nonstop chatter from players on the court and a brisk tempo that reignited Walton.
—Scott Howard-Cooper., Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024
Over and over and over again, the Democrats have been told that the country dislikes their candidate, disdains his presidency, and loathes his understudy — and, in response, the party has decided to keep everything exactly the same.
—Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023
Within 10 years, after studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Hopkins was serving as an understudy for Sir Laurence Olivier at London’s Royal National Theatre.
—Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 21 Jan. 2024
Peluso first gained attention in the theater world as an understudy covering the Balladeer in the 2004 revival of Assassins, Louis and Nicolas in Elton John's Lestat, and three leading male roles in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2023
As Baltimore’s understudy, Likely has one simple goal: be trustworthy.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'understudy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near understudy
Cite this Entry
“Understudy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/understudy. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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