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
Ricky J. Sethi, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Perhaps that’s what led to his first big break, understudying for Matthew Broderick in Broadway’s Brighton Beach Memoirs.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
James McNicholas, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
In the early 1980s, she was introduced by Radner to SNL and became her understudy.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for understudy
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Verb
In fact, metacognition is fundamental to human intelligence and, until recently, has been understudied in artificial intelligence systems.
—Ricky J. Sethi, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Perhaps that’s what led to his first big break, understudying for Matthew Broderick in Broadway’s Brighton Beach Memoirs.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
While this area will have to be revisited in the summer, Villa’s lack of a reliable understudy for Matty Cash could do with being solved.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
In the early 1980s, she was introduced by Radner to SNL and became her understudy.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for understudy
Cite this Entry
“Understudy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/understudy. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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