underlie

verb

un·​der·​lie ˌən-dər-ˈlī How to pronounce underlie (audio)
underlay ˌən-dər-ˈlā How to pronounce underlie (audio) ; underlain ˌən-dər-ˈlān How to pronounce underlie (audio) ; underlying ˌən-dər-ˈlī-iŋ How to pronounce underlie (audio)
Synonyms of underlienext

transitive verb

1
: to lie or be situated under
2
: to be at the basis of : form the foundation of : support
ideas underlying the revolution
3
: to exist as a claim or security superior and prior to (another)
4
archaic : to be subject or amenable to

Examples of underlie in a Sentence

A tile floor underlies the rug. The river is underlain by limestone. We discussed the principles that underlay their methods. A theme of revenge underlies much of her writing.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Neutrinos could one day offer new insight into the still mysterious origin of these deep structures and, more broadly, the patterns in the mantle that underlie many aspects of the Earth system. — James Dinneen, Quanta Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026 The Louisiana Department of Health said all nine cases reported this year were linked to wounds exposed to seawater and that all of the patients had underlying health conditions. — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026 Users didn’t always ask clean questions, and the underlying systems were not yet good enough to infer intent reliably at scale. — Alan Bradley, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026 At the same time, the underlying technology is becoming cheaper. — Bryan Murphy, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for underlie

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of underlie was before the 12th century

Rhymes for underlie

See All Rhymes for underlie

Browse Nearby Words

under license
underlie
underlier
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Cite this Entry

“Underlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underlie. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

underlie

verb
un·​der·​lie ˌən-dər-ˈlī How to pronounce underlie (audio)
underlay -ˈlā How to pronounce underlie (audio) ; underlain -ˈlān How to pronounce underlie (audio) ; underlying -ˈlī-iŋ How to pronounce underlie (audio)
1
: to lie or be located under
2
: to form the foundation of : support
ideas underlying the revolt

More from Merriam-Webster on underlie

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for underlie

Nglish: Translation of underlie for Spanish Speakers

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