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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underlie
There are quick but indelible glimpses of signs for the whites-only ticket booth, waiting room, and rest room; when Stack, seeing a white woman nearby, orders Sammie to avert his eyes and walk away, the screen shivers with the ambient terror underlying the banalities of segregation.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
These measures address symptoms of our current educational crises, not the underlying cause.
—Catherine Goetze, Time, 17 Apr. 2025
Several factors contribute to this disparity—from lack of access to the proper pre-natal care to a higher likelihood of pregnancy complications and underlying chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
—Morgan A. Grain, Essence, 15 Apr. 2025
In the future, advanced AI agents will be able to handle complex requests and workflows, generating sophisticated answers from underlying data resources.
—Hank Boughner, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
These measures address symptoms of our current educational crises, not the underlying cause.
—Catherine Goetze, Time, 17 Apr. 2025
Several factors contribute to this disparity—from lack of access to the proper pre-natal care to a higher likelihood of pregnancy complications and underlying chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
—Morgan A. Grain, Essence, 15 Apr. 2025
In the future, advanced AI agents will be able to handle complex requests and workflows, generating sophisticated answers from underlying data resources.
—Hank Boughner, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlie
Verb
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Edison and the state’s two other large for-profit electric companies supported the bill, along with members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2025
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This guide explores the pros and cons of staking and caging, and provides must-know tips for using your tomato supports properly.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Reuters was not immediately able to establish his identity.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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The underpinnings of a global order can be traced to the age of discovery, when Europeans first learned to circumnavigate the globe, then established a presence at vast distances, and followed that with empires.—
Margaret MacMillan,
The Atlantic,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Among Madsen Lindemann’s other financial measures was a dramatic scaling back on original drama spend, a move that hit local producers hard, but steadied the ship at Viaplay.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2025
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Iran seeks a deal to steady a troubled economy Iran’s internal politics are still inflamed over the mandatory hijab, or headscarf, with women still ignoring the law on the streets of Tehran.—
Matthew Lee and Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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So, what keeps this young group grounded as the pressure mounts?—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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Hayden Scott grounded out to shortstop and Gaeckle struck out Ben Royo and Terrence Kiehl to end the inning.—
Matt Jones,
Arkansas Online,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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For example, Vampire Stack upholds his promise to Smoke about letting Sammie live out his life in peace.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2025
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During this same period, the dean of admissions for each program or school must sign a public statement after each admissions cycle certifying that these rules have been upheld.—
Kayla Jimenez,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Acknowledgement: Recognizing people’s contributions, even with a simple thank-you, reinforces a sense of value and belonging.—
Aparna Rae,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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Will Campbell reinforce a rotation of edge rushers that lost Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham in the offseason?—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Verb
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How the Moho Is Working The force of that collision could have carried the Moho of the incoming pieces up and over the older landmass, resulting in a doubling of the Moho there, says Paul Karabinos, a geologist at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.—
Alexandra Witze,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Apr. 2025
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Macdonald-King said the new charging facility is designed to serve as a transfer point between the specialized trucks that carry freight from the port and other trucks that ply the interstate highways to the east and north.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Risk assessment underpins auto financing, determining who qualifies for a loan and at what rate.—
Naeem Ghauri,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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This primal response underpins much of why food marketing depends so heavily on bright, bold reds to sell us candy, beverages, and snacks.—
Bedatri D. Choudhury,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlie. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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