understudy

American  

[uhn-der-stuhd-ee] / ˈʌn dərˌstʌd i /

verb (used with object)

• understudies,
  present (3rd person singular)
• understudied,
  past participle,  past
• understudying
  present participle

1. to learn (a role) in order to replace the regular actor or actress when necessary.

2. to act as understudy to (an actor or actress).

   to understudy the lead.

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verb (used without object)

• understudies,
  present (3rd person singular)
• understudied,
  past participle,  past
• understudying
  present participle

1. to act or work as an understudy.

noun

• understudies
  plural

1. a performer who learns the role of another in order to serve as a replacement if necessary.

understudy British  

/ ˈʌndəˌstʌdɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to study (a role or part) so as to be able to replace the usual actor or actress if necessary

2. to act as understudy to (an actor or actress)

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noun

1. an actor or actress who studies a part so as to be able to replace the usual actor or actress if necessary

2. anyone who is trained to take the place of another in case of need

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• understudies
  plural

Participles

• understudying
  present
• understudied
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• understudy
  simple
• understudies
  simple
• have understudied
  perfect
• has understudied
  perfect
• am understudying
  progressive
• are understudying
  progressive
• is understudying
  progressive
• have been understudying
  perfect progressive
• has been understudying
  perfect progressive

Past

• understudied
  simple
• had understudied
  perfect
• was understudying
  progressive
• were understudying
  progressive
• had been understudying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will understudy
  simple
• will have understudied
  perfect
• will be understudying
  progressive
• will have been understudying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of understudy

First recorded in 1870–75; under- + study

Explanation

In the theater, an understudy is a backup or alternate for another actor in the play. If the lead in the school play comes down with the flu, her understudy will have a chance to perform the starring role. The show must go on (as they say in show business)—which is why an understudy has an important job. He or she has to learn every line and be ready to fill at the last minute. You can also use this word as a verb, so you might say, "I'm going to understudy the role of Aaron Burr in Hamilton!" An understudy often plays a smaller role in the play as well, filling in for main roles as needed.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

understudy understudies understudied understudying

I was cast as an understudy on the soap opera “One Life to Live.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

In 2023 he was playing Gandalf in a stage version of Lord of the Rings when he felt himself "switching off" and an understudy had to take over for the rest of the run.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

Burley, who also composed the theme song for the series, said he first spotted Swansea-born Jones on the musical 42nd Street as a second understudy.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026

When Hiller did, general manager Ken Holland promoted his understudy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2026

Therefore I propose that someone with a keen sense of the theatrical, a talent for mimicry and improvising dialogue—a playwright, perhaps?—be engaged as an understudy to the ghost, as it were.”

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

England have already lost Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour for the Six Nations leaving Vilikesa 'Billy' Sela and Trevor Davison, who have three caps between them, as understudies to Joe Heyes at tight-head.

From BBC ● Jan. 27, 2026

Viewers watch as Jeanine intellectualizes each character’s motivations and inner thoughts, dictating them to the performers onstage and their understudies.

From Salon ● Mar. 12, 2025

His understudies, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman, are arguably better than any other goalie in the tournament.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2025

“I think it’s a testament to those two people,” says Aubrey Matalon, who understudies both “Ride” roles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2024

But there were two good understudies ready trained—Skystein and Dr. Mary Mudd—with Mr. Hopkins as chairman to balance their powers.

From The Preacher of Cedar Mountain A Tale of the Open Country by Ernest Thompson Seton

She said it is too new and understudied.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

"The role of astrocytes in central nervous system healing is remarkably understudied," said David Underhill, PhD, chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 13, 2026

He recently analysed just how understudied most other bacteria have been relative to E. coli.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2025

The Bowl granted him three weeks off for rehearsals in July, where he also understudied as Erivo’s Jesus.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2025

She understudied it all last season in London.

From The Man with Two Left Feet And Other Stories by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse

And the next day, I got cast understudying Faith Prince and Kate Nelligan in “Bad Habits,” a play at the Manhattan Theatre Club.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2025

Forbach had been understudying before being promoted to Rapunzel’s Prince for the touring production.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 16, 2023

Now graduated, Shavit-Lonstein works two day jobs while “swinging” — understudying multiple roles — in “Winnie the Pooh” at StoryBook Theater in Kirkland.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 6, 2022

It was there where Poitier was given the role of understudying Harry Belafonte in "Days of our Youth."

From Fox News ● Jan. 7, 2022

It even refused him the privilege of walking on and understudying.

From The Fortunate Youth by William John Locke

Related Words

• backup
• stand-in