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
• have
• see

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

Harry, the Duke of Sussex, last saw his father in February 2024, shortly after it was announced that Charles was undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of cancer. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025

For this research, 2,750 people underwent about five years of annual neurological assessments and brain imaging along with evaluations of sleep habits to investigate the association between insomnia and brain changes. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025

Riozzi-Bodine kept her hair while undergoing eight rounds of standard chemotherapy before being declared cancer-free in February 2022. —Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025

In college basketball, Mike Krzyzewski took a leave of absence from Duke in 2017 to undergo back surgery. —Steve Buckley, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for undergo

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

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