1
as in supports
to lie underneath
A layer of rock underlies the topsoil.
Related Words
Relevance
2
as in grounds
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 underlies
Papouin’s team was studying changes at synapses that alter communication between neurons, a form of neuroplasticity that underlies ongoing shifts in thought and behavior.
—
Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 30 Jan. 2026
Zeus acting for his own pleasure underlies the evolutionary tales of small groups raiding foreign shores, carrying off women.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
The permafrost that underlies the island is rapidly thawing and destabilizing infrastructure, including the critical radar installation and runway at Thule, renamed Pituffik Space Base in 2022.
—Paul Bierman, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
And the Nazca plate, which underlies the eastern Pacific Ocean, also shapes the area’s tectonic scene.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2026
As the climate warms, permafrost – frozen rock and soil – which underlies the island, thaws.
—Paul Bierman, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Continue to build the foundation that underlies your life.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
The invalidation of Crown grants underlies the Cowichan outcome.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2025
Permafrost thaw is turning rivers orange As permafrost – the frozen ground that underlies much of the Arctic – continues its long-term warming and thaw, one emerging consequence is the spread of rusting rivers.
—Matthew L. Druckenmiller, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 30 Jan. 2026
Zeus acting for his own pleasure underlies the evolutionary tales of small groups raiding foreign shores, carrying off women.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
The permafrost that underlies the island is rapidly thawing and destabilizing infrastructure, including the critical radar installation and runway at Thule, renamed Pituffik Space Base in 2022.
—Paul Bierman, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
And the Nazca plate, which underlies the eastern Pacific Ocean, also shapes the area’s tectonic scene.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2026
As the climate warms, permafrost – frozen rock and soil – which underlies the island, thaws.
—Paul Bierman, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Continue to build the foundation that underlies your life.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
The invalidation of Crown grants underlies the Cowichan outcome.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2025
Permafrost thaw is turning rivers orange As permafrost – the frozen ground that underlies much of the Arctic – continues its long-term warming and thaw, one emerging consequence is the spread of rusting rivers.
—Matthew L. Druckenmiller, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlies
Verb
-
Rather than functioning as a static model, the LPM serves as the core of Carbon AI, a broader decision-making framework that supports both the LaserWeeder platform and the company’s Autonomous Tractor Kit (ATK).—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Feb. 2026
-
These activities engage animals both mentally and physically, providing stimulation that encourages natural behaviors and supports overall animal welfare.—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
From that position, Dimon grounds his thinking in the Western tradition of free people and free markets, reflected in democratic institutions and capitalist economies.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The series grounds its narrative in ambition and strategy within elite figure skating, framing Adriana’s return as a professional move shaped by both legacy and survival.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Senate Bill 1 also establishes the time frame for Medicaid eligibility redeterminations, and requires the secretary of the Family and Social Services Administration to transmit certain information to the federal government to prevent multiple state Medicaid enrollment.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The Lemon Grove City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to adopt an urgency ordinance that establishes temporary protections for residential renters.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The co-location of global leaders in such dedicated zones reinforces the idea that successful ecosystems think beyond silos and that true growth emerges from collaborative environments where businesses, academia, and government work in tandem.—
Abdulla Belhoul,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The city commission said the move reinforces the collaborative approach supporting local businesses while also prioritizing public safety and neighborhood quality of life.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The proposal rests on the false premise that allowing corporate investors to own and subsequently rent out homes is a major driver of high home prices.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Opened last fall, the resort rests where three ecosystems collide—the Mojave Desert, the Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin—creating scenery that feels somewhat otherworldly.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The brand’s experimental platform Goldwin 0, launched in 2022, bases its design, creative direction, and communications teams in London, as well.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Hippocrates bases his explanation of epilepsy, that most perplexing of illnesses, on observation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underlies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlies. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
