: 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
Example Sentences
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 WebInhibitions around things like cleanliness or public speaking can underlie anxiety disorders. Andrew Hartz, WSJ, 7 Aug. 2022 Shame and many factors underlie survivors’ unwillingness to report rapes.Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2022 But also, there's this global security issue of the digital security of these vehicles and the web systems that underlie them.WIRED, 20 Aug. 2022 And there better be some pretty extraordinary facts to underlie it. Steve Peoples, ajc, 9 Aug. 2022 While scientists have been trying to unravel the biological processes that underlie aging for decades, most federal research dollars have been funneled toward understanding ailments such as Alzheimer’s disease. Megan Molteni, STAT, 23 July 2022 In terms of deliverables, investors should expect an overall assessment of the technology and the technical team's ability to deliver the features, customer-facing and not, that underlie the product road map and thus the revenue projections. Bernard Fraenkel, Forbes, 22 June 2022 Ignoring this distinction has led to drug-addiction therapies that haven’t capitalized on the psychological factors that underlie drug use. Jackson Toby, WSJ, 4 July 2022 Indeed, adroit leaders learn the hard way that both dimensions deserve significant attention since secular challenges underlie and can drive significantly the nature by which cyclical issues are addresses. Harry G. Broadman, Forbes, 1 July 2022 See More
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