understudy

1 of 2

verb

un·​der·​study ˈən-dər-ˌstə-dē How to pronounce understudy (audio)
ˌən-dər-ˈstə-
understudied; understudying; understudies

intransitive verb

: to study another actor's part in order to substitute in an emergency

transitive verb

: to prepare (a part or character) as understudy
also : to prepare as understudy to (an actor)

understudy

2 of 2

noun

un·​der·​study ˈən-dər-ˌstə-dē How to pronounce understudy (audio)
: 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
Verb
Yet experts say pollen has been understudied in Arizona. Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 21 Sep. 2024 Targeted efforts to address stillbirths, which have been understudied compared with infant mortality, are needed at state and national levels, said Dr. Andreea Creanga, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, in an email. Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024
Noun
The brevity is, of course, a function of Joe Biden’s catatonic debate performance, ensuing Democratic panic and the president’s overnight replacement in the shank of summer by his vice presidential understudy, Kamala Harris. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2024 Jones made his Broadway in 1957 as an understudy in The Egghead. Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for understudy 

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.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1874, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of understudy was in 1874

Dictionary Entries Near understudy

Cite this Entry

“Understudy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/understudy. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

understudy

verb
un·​der·​study
ˈən-dər-ˌstəd-ē,
ˌən-dər-ˈstəd-ē
: to study another actor's part in order to be his or her substitute in an emergency
understudy noun

More from Merriam-Webster on understudy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!