underlie

verb

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

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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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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 That doesn’t mean their command is bad, so Open Command is probably doing a better job of getting at the underlying skill in question. — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 The terminology may differ, but the underlying patterns rarely do. — Farzana Abdulhusein, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026 There’s an underlying new attached to his move from Chicago to Atlanta, too. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 3 Sep. 2026 The dystopia depicted in the ad came by way of George Orwell’s imagination, but the fears underlying it had deep American roots. — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 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
  • If the folks in charge really fixed the offensive line, maybe new coach Todd Monken’s offense can create big plays and support a defense that still has top talent.
    — Zac Jackson, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The documentary is narrated by actor Gary Sinise, whose own direction in life was profoundly affected by the attacks and ultimately inspired the creation of his foundation to support veterans, first responders, and their families.
    — Amy DeLaura, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of support
Verb
  • Edgecombe established himself as one of the league’s best rookies.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers need to establish what remains in the purified water and whether those substances could affect drug quality or patient safety.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of establish
Verb
  • The new king must steady royal fortunes amid damaging scrutiny of Queen Mette-Marit’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein and stepson Marius Høiby’s rape conviction, which has eroded public support for the monarchy.
    — Jan M. Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Virgo August 23 – September 22 A sudden career shift may ask you to steady your response before acting.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of steady
Verb
  • For a studio that built its modern reputation on superb player traversal, grounding Wolverine in static, empty zones feels like a massive step backward.
    — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
  • But, again, grounding yourself — my faith, my family, my kids, and the things that really matter in life can bring you back.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of ground
Verb
  • The outfit matched the pale yellow of the venue but upheld the Hermès aesthetic of discreet, horsey timelessness.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling dismissing residents’ 2022 lawsuit.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of uphold
Verb
  • And by engaging with these powerful militaries, the group reinforced its self-image as a major regional player that was uniquely capable of liberating the Muslim world from corrupting American and Israeli influence.
    — April Longley Alley, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026
  • That experience reinforced for me that Florida needs a clearer, more consistent process for people seeking to regain rights after completing their sentences.
    — José Javier Rodríguez, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of reinforce
Verb
  • West Virginia’s Cam Cook — the nation’s leading rusher last season — is the only other running back with 30 carries in a game this year.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The biggest aircraft in the fleet, Boeing’s 767-300F, typically carries about 116,000 lbs.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of carry
Verb
  • Of the industrial innovations underpinning this order, the assembly line and vertical integration were most significant.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Shalini Adnani’s poignant coming-of-age drama Our Share of Sand presents a unique perspective on India’s gaping class inequality, child labor and the deep corruption underpinning a family’s economic status.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of underpin

Browse Nearby Words

underlay
underlie
underlies
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Cite this Entry

“Underlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlie. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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