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View synonyms for

underlie

[ uhn-der-lahy ]

verb (used with object)

underlay, underlain, underlying.
  1. to lie under or beneath; be situated under.
  2. to be at the basis of; form the foundation of.
  3. Grammar. to function as the root morpheme or original or basic form of (a derived form):

    The form “boy” underlies “boyish.”

  4. Finance. to be primary to another right or security.


underlie

/ ˌʌԻəˈɪ /

verb

  1. to lie or be placed under or beneath
  2. to be the foundation, cause, or basis of

    careful planning underlies all our decisions

  3. finance to take priority over (another claim, liability, mortgage, etc)

    a first mortgage underlies a second

  4. to be the root or stem from which (a word) is derived

    "happy" underlies "happiest"

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈܲԻˌ, noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of underlie1

before 900; Middle English underlyen (v.), Old English underlicgan. See under-, lie 2
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Bonta acknowledged the setbacks but noted they denied emergency relief only — without reaching any final conclusions about the underlying legality of the administration’s actions or the merits of the state’s challenges to them.

From

Those models now form the underlying modeling architecture of many of NOAA’s other departments, including the forecasts from the National Weather Service.

From

The commissioner also said Wales "cannot afford to keep treating preventable diseases without addressing their underlying causes".

From

An inquest in January found Mr Mills' medical cause of death was ischaemic heart disease and drowning, with the coroner concluding that he died due to an accident caused by underlying natural causes.

From

Vancouver's mayor, Ken Sim, similarly said that "mental health appears to be the underlying issue here."

From

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