1
2
as in to establish
to form the basis or foundation of (something, such as an idea)
The assumption that underlies their argument is faulty.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underlie
That seems to be the bigger issue here; the underlying iceberg that has snagged your confidence.
—
Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
Landau adds that ongoing symptoms after several weeks of drinking probiotic soda could indicate that a particular probiotic strain is not working well with your existing gut bacteria, or that there may be an underlying digestive issue that should be evaluated.
—Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 21 May 2026
Fotografixx | Istock Unreleased | Getty Images And where consumer demand today fails to drive companies to tackle the underlying issue of overproduction, impending regulations might.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 20 May 2026
The underlying challenge is that oil drilling is a complex and expensive process that takes years to come to fruition.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
Landau adds that ongoing symptoms after several weeks of drinking probiotic soda could indicate that a particular probiotic strain is not working well with your existing gut bacteria, or that there may be an underlying digestive issue that should be evaluated.
—Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 21 May 2026
Fotografixx | Istock Unreleased | Getty Images And where consumer demand today fails to drive companies to tackle the underlying issue of overproduction, impending regulations might.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 20 May 2026
The underlying challenge is that oil drilling is a complex and expensive process that takes years to come to fruition.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlie
Verb
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Your browser does not support the video tag.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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That’s not supported by the data.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Dylan's older brother, Ashten, has since established a GoFundMe to help support Dylan and his family pay their rent during this challenging time, noting that Dylan has lost out on work and income during his recovery.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
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The board’s five-part plan establishes a timeline to follow and directs district staff to execute some steps, including naming the new chief at the start of the new school year and the price tag of the search.—
Natalie La Roche Pietri,
Miami Herald,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Given rumors were circling that José Mourinho was on his way back to manage the team next season, some assumed Pérez would be addressing that, looking to steady the ship after a torrid few months in the Spanish capital.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
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Nothing about the daily judgment educators use to steady an overwhelmed child, adapt a lesson, stoke critical thinking, de-escalate a conflict or help a student who comes to school hungry.—
Randi Weingarten,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
Verb
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And Weaver ended the inning by getting Anthony Volpe to ground into a forceout, preserving the Mets’ two-run lead in improbable fashion.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2026
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But at the center of it all is Navarrette, whose fearless turn grounds the film’s shocking premise in something both heartbreaking and haunting.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Verb
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According to the February report, a primary aim of the committee’s recommendations was to uphold both the internal and external roles of a rigorous grading system.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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The Supreme Court heard arguments in January and appeared likely to uphold the state bans.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Excluding unhoused people from public spaces reinforces stigma and weakens the social bonds that support stability and recovery.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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The device has been deployed in the marine testing area of BiMEP, located off the coast of Bizkaia, reinforcing the role of this infrastructure for testing and research of marine energy technologies in Europe.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The outbreak linked to the MV Hondius began after the Dutch cruise ship, carrying 147 passengers and crew members, departed Argentina on April 1 for a South Atlantic voyage.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
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The Knicks’ wings have carried their defense throughout this playoff run.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The debate ultimately comes down to whether African countries can expand internet access without surrendering control over the infrastructure and economic value underpinning their digital economies.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
22 May 2026
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This strategy is underpinned by 15 near- and medium-term goals, including spurring regenerative agriculture practices on 1 million hectares of farmland by 2030.—
Mindy Lubber,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlie. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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