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.
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
Whether Pirro’s announcement resolves the underlying standoff is a different question.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Without that underlying menace, the show's final stretch struggles to land.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Maybe the same process could be underlying it, just [with] different areas of the body [being] affected.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
Zeroing out items that have been at current spending levels for years is not the best response to the underlying structural imbalances.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Without that underlying menace, the show's final stretch struggles to land.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Maybe the same process could be underlying it, just [with] different areas of the body [being] affected.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
Zeroing out items that have been at current spending levels for years is not the best response to the underlying structural imbalances.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlie
Verb
-
Pahlavi in Berlin called on Europeans to do more to support Iranian people fighting for democracy.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of relying solely on a few flagship machines, China appears to be building a dense and interconnected infrastructure capable of supporting large-scale AI applications across industries.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The movie’s point of view is established with a brief opening voice-over by a woman named Sasha, whose reminiscences of childhood, and of her brother Jeremy, make up the bulk of the film.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
French counterterrorism prosecutors also said the plot to ignite an explosive device outside the Paris headquarters of Bank of America appears to be linked to HAYI, but a firm link has not yet been established.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Once Orion is deemed safe to approach, Navy divers can bring their boats up against the bobbing capsule and members of the 16- to 20-person team jump into the water and begin attaching hardware to steady the capsule and prepare it for crew extraction and recovery.—
Miles Doran,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Trying to avoid their longest losing streak of the season, the Lakers relied on James to steady the ship.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That mix of nature and physical movement kept me grounded.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The Brewers eventually loaded the bases with two outs before Ortiz grounded out to the mound to end it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Separately, a cultivator sued MED, alleging the agency has failed to uphold its statutory duty to protect consumers and prosecute bad actors.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The judge upheld the first two convictions but declared a mistrial on the final rape charge after the jury foreperson refused to keep deliberating.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Further reinforcing the overlap, businesses and residents increasingly are fleeing high taxes and prices in Illinois for a lower cost of living in Indiana.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
It's formulated with the label's game-changing Alpha Keratin 60KU, which nourishes the scalp, repairs damage, and reinforces hair strength.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
March 21 – April 19 Your words carry weight today.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
-
When Raphael died, a hundred torches were carried by painters at his funeral, and he was buried in the rotunda of the Pantheon.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ditto the sophisticated modulations and subtle rhythmic shifts that underpin Puth’s best songs.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
In November, the agency announced a separate set of proposals that would dismantle several other rules underpinning the law, including changes that would hinder agencies’ ability to protect species from rapid global warming impacts.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlie. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
