underlies

verb

present tense third-person singular of underlie
1
as in supports
to lie underneath A layer of rock underlies the topsoil.

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2
as in grounds
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

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 underlies Permafrost, a layer of ground made up of soil, rock and sediment, underlies nearly 15% of the land surface in the Northern Hemisphere. — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 The same principle underlies brainwriting, a technique that reliably outperforms conventional brainstorming. — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 The same philosophy underlies a series of larger reforms already underway. — Bethany Mandel, The Washington Examiner, 16 Aug. 2026 This approach underlies the security of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum and, with RSA, helps secure modern internet traffic. — IEEE Spectrum, 7 July 2026 And that’s the question that underlies much of what’s onscreen in this perplexing, entertaining, frustrating picture. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 July 2026 But in making their arguments, the authors went further, addressing fundamental questions of politics by laying out the political theory that underlies that Constitution. — Jordan Cash, The Conversation, 8 June 2026 Training, both stressed, underlies all of it. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlies
  1. supports
  2. grounds
  3. establishes
  4. reinforces
  5. rests
  6. bases
Verb
  • The other half came from the Fund for Policy Reform, a nonprofit that’s part of Soros’ Open Society Foundations, which supports progressive organizations and whose board is chaired by his son, Alex Soros.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Pearlman supports campus efforts to create foundations for scholarships and lobbying Sacramento and Washington to keep funding, including student aid, at necessary levels.
    — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of supports
Verb
  • Those themes may not dominate her lyrical approach, but their presence provides a headier energy that grounds the album and elevates it a few steps above merely a consistent Afropop LP.
    — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Luke grounds Emma, but ultimately, Emma grounds herself, through purpose and family.
    — Katie Walsh, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of grounds
Verb
  • In this context, the Orano-CEA pilot line establishes a capability to produce high-performance magnets in France, with the partners aiming to support the future development of industrial production capacity in Europe.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The partnership also establishes an audio media category for USA Lacrosse and includes exclusive content surrounding the sport’s events and properties.
    — Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of establishes
Verb
  • But continuing to dismiss a genre only feeds into stereotypes that many have been working tirelessly to undo, and reinforces and empowers those that are earned.
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The deal reinforces Globo’s positioning in the format rights market.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of reinforces
Verb
  • The Dodgers’ clearest and cleanest route to a three-peat nonetheless rests upon the four shoulders of Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Baek’s fate in the end rests in the hands of his little brother, Baek Ki-hyeon.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of rests
Verb
  • This makes Kansas one of the few states that bases the requirement on payroll dollars rather than employee count.
    — Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Currently, the Social Security Administration bases its COLA each year on average annual increases in the CPI-W, or the index for urban wage earners, from July through September.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of bases

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underlie
underlies
underline
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Cite this Entry

“Underlies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlies. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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