undergo
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Usage
What is another way to say undergo? To undergo something is to be subjected to or to endure that thing. How does undergo differ from experience? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have undergoneperfect
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has undergoneperfect 3rd person singular
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are undergoingprogressive
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am undergoingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been undergoingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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undergoessingular 3rd person
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have been undergoingperfect progressive
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is undergoingprogressive 3rd person singular
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undergoingparticiple
Past
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had undergoneperfect
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was undergoingprogressive singular
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undergoneparticiple
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had been undergoingperfect progressive
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were undergoingprogressive plural
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underwentsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of undergo
First recorded before 1000; Middle English undergon, Old English undergān. See under-, go 1
Explanation
Undergo means "endure until something is complete." You might undergo testing to check your hearing or undergo special training if you want to volunteer at a homeless shelter. The verb undergo means "experience" or "undertake." It is often used to describe medical procedures, such as, an injured quarterback who will undergo shoulder surgery. The word implies that it is something that has to happen so that a positive change occurs, like healing in the case of the quarterback or greater communication skills for a hot-tempered person who undergoes anger management training.
Vocabulary lists containing undergo
Word Generation Weekly - Series 3
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The Red Umbrella
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“On Civil Disobedience” by Mohandas K. Gandhi
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Unlike fresh or minimally processed foods, these products undergo extensive industrial processing.
From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026
In addition, it states that the plans for the event did not receive approval from Congress to construct a massive structure on the lawn and did not undergo a required environmental review before construction.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
She plans to undergo a double mastectomy and reconstruction in the winter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
Rob said he flew back to Australia and was the first in the country to undergo robotic surgery in a single-port operation.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
Last year it was observed that young women living at close quarters in dormitories tended to undergo spontaneous synchronization of their menstrual cycles.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
