underlie

verb

Definition of underlienext
1
as in to support
to lie underneath A layer of rock underlies the topsoil.

Related Words

Relevance
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.

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of underlie An improper diagnosis can trail a child through their school years, Fombonne said, but a different, underlying condition the person might have—such as depression and anxiety—might go untreated. — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026 As a non-profit, its money is redistributed to build footballing infrastructure in those nations, creating a circular relationship between FIFA and its underlying participants. — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 20 July 2026 For many potential investors, an underlying concern is how long the Americans would enforce a receptive environment. — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 Those with other underlying conditions like diabetes and heart disease can also feel effects sooner or more severely. — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for underlie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlie
  1. support
  2. establish
  3. steady
  4. ground
  5. uphold
  6. reinforce
  7. carry
  8. underpin
Verb
  • The engine already supports several missile applications, with Pratt & Whitney delivering more than 2,700 units to customers worldwide.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
  • Sinking land and rising tides Despite the enthusiasm for building Miami higher, the question remains whether the city can quite literally support it.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of support
Verb
  • Boras generally prefers his clients to establish their values on the open market.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • And last year’s constitutional reforms had already established a one-party system in a country where opposition leaders no longer exist, because they have been exiled.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of establish
Verb
  • They’re typically held by a handle in one hand, though some models have a secondary grip near the front of the saw to steady the blade.
    — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026
  • Rebounds for big, influential tech stocks also helped steady the market.
    — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of steady
Verb
  • Per Michael Rider, white canvas shoes ground statement skirts with easy polish.
    — Minty Mellon, Vogue, 23 July 2026
  • Xander Bogaerts got under a curveball hung up in the zone and flied out to start the inning before Gavin Sheets grounded a single up the middle and Freddy Fermin appeared to have made the second out.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2026
Definition of ground
Verb
  • For many, this new-build option upholds preferential aesthetics while satisfying practical needs and eliminating restoration headaches.
    — Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 20 July 2026
  • The legal battle has been ongoing since the 2012 incident, and the Alaska Supreme Court has upheld the state’s bid to seize Jouppi’s plane.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 20 July 2026
Definition of uphold
Verb
  • Audemard’s Caracas apartment building was constructed into bedrock, reinforcing it.
    — Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • Producing the film has reinforced her belief that festivals should serve as more than exhibition platforms.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 24 July 2026
Definition of reinforce
Verb
  • That was part of his wider goal of sending endless waves of bomb-carrying drones and robots to hit Russian encampments in a bid to sharply reduce Ukraine’s casualties.
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The port of entry handled $126 billion in trade carried by commercial trucks in 2023, Reuters reported.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • The passing of the baton from Deschamps to Zidane is underpinned by extra emotion.
    — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • What was once a highly focused, if combative, investment thesis has evolved into a campaign to defend the moral and economic logic that Ackman believes underpins American capitalism itself.
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 20 July 2026
Definition of underpin

Browse Nearby Words

underlay
underlie
underlies
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Underlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlie. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on underlie

Nglish: Translation of underlie for Spanish Speakers

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All