1
2
as in to establish
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
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Recent Examples of underlie
These don’t alter the underlying DNA sequence of the cells but are modifications or chemical tags that alter gene activity.
—
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
The dual structure allows investors to gain exposure either to the underlying portfolio or to the management business itself.
—Yun Li,fred Imbert, CNBC, 15 May 2026
For years, the department had become increasingly reliant on a reactive hiring model that, while effective at addressing immediate staffing shortages, masked underlying weaknesses within the broader hiring process.
—Joy Lepola-Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2026
That figure is known as the control group, which economists say is a good measure of underlying consumer demand.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
The dual structure allows investors to gain exposure either to the underlying portfolio or to the management business itself.
—Yun Li,fred Imbert, CNBC, 15 May 2026
For years, the department had become increasingly reliant on a reactive hiring model that, while effective at addressing immediate staffing shortages, masked underlying weaknesses within the broader hiring process.
—Joy Lepola-Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2026
That figure is known as the control group, which economists say is a good measure of underlying consumer demand.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for underlie
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underlie
Verb
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Your browser does not support the video tag.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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That’s not supported by the data.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Dylan's older brother, Ashten, has since established a GoFundMe to help support Dylan and his family pay their rent during this challenging time, noting that Dylan has lost out on work and income during his recovery.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
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The board’s five-part plan establishes a timeline to follow and directs district staff to execute some steps, including naming the new chief at the start of the new school year and the price tag of the search.—
Natalie La Roche Pietri,
Miami Herald,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Given rumors were circling that José Mourinho was on his way back to manage the team next season, some assumed Pérez would be addressing that, looking to steady the ship after a torrid few months in the Spanish capital.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
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Nothing about the daily judgment educators use to steady an overwhelmed child, adapt a lesson, stoke critical thinking, de-escalate a conflict or help a student who comes to school hungry.—
Randi Weingarten,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
Verb
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And Weaver ended the inning by getting Anthony Volpe to ground into a forceout, preserving the Mets’ two-run lead in improbable fashion.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2026
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But at the center of it all is Navarrette, whose fearless turn grounds the film’s shocking premise in something both heartbreaking and haunting.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Verb
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According to the February report, a primary aim of the committee’s recommendations was to uphold both the internal and external roles of a rigorous grading system.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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The Supreme Court heard arguments in January and appeared likely to uphold the state bans.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Excluding unhoused people from public spaces reinforces stigma and weakens the social bonds that support stability and recovery.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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The device has been deployed in the marine testing area of BiMEP, located off the coast of Bizkaia, reinforcing the role of this infrastructure for testing and research of marine energy technologies in Europe.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The outbreak linked to the MV Hondius began after the Dutch cruise ship, carrying 147 passengers and crew members, departed Argentina on April 1 for a South Atlantic voyage.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
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The Knicks’ wings have carried their defense throughout this playoff run.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Verb
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This gives them a stronger base for faster, more confident sourcing decisions, as this information can underpin AI tools across direct sourcing, helping teams identify supplier risk earlier, surface savings opportunities, improve scenario planning and reduce repetitive admin.—
Alex Saric,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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Investors have an insatiable appetite to fund the pick-and-shovel businesses underpinning data-center buildouts and Ford’s version of an AI pivot shows that even staid companies like the 122-year-old giant aren’t above the fray.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Underlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underlie. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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