Definition of underlying
1a : lying beneath or below the underlying rock is shaleb : 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
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Examples of underlying in a Sentence
the ocean and the underlying rock
the underlying differences between democracy and dictatorship
Recent Examples of underlying from the Web
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Trump could have instead pledged to withdraw from the underlying 1992 United Nations climate treaty, signed by President George H.W. Bush and ratified by the U.S. Senate.
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But pulling out of the agreement is popular with Mr. Trump's political base, many of whom are skeptical of the science underlying climate change policy.
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Many homeless people live without regular preventive care, including those who are elderly or living outdoors with underlying or chronic conditions such as pneumonia or heart disease, Duchin said.
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The underlying case stems from an application by Florida Charter Educational Foundation, Inc., and South Palm Beach Charter School to open a charter school.
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For all the underlying tensions setting the stage for their first visit, given their unusually harsh exchange last year over immigration and whether the building of walls is a Christian thing to do, the Pope took another tack.
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The strange geology of the floor of the Gulf is mostly caused by thick underlying layers of salt.
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The study, Dr. Campagna said, is a reminder that one species can split into multiple species with very little underlying genetic change.
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Annual inflation in Canada rose in April at an identical pace from the previous month, while gauges of underlying, or core, price increases continued to exhibit softness—
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'underlying'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of underlying
1611
UNDERLYING Defined for English Language Learners
underlying
playDefinition of underlying for English Language Learners
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—used to identify the idea, cause, problem, etc., that forms the basis of something
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: lying under or below something
Medical Dictionary
underlying
playMedical Definition of underlying
: serving as a basis or cause (as of secondary symptoms) the underlying brain malformation that caused the hydrocephalus—R. M. Henig
Learn More about underlying
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See words that rhyme with underlying Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for underlying Spanish Central: Translation of underlying Nglish: Translation of underlying for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of underlying for Arabic speakers
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