underlie

[uhn-der-lahy]

verb (used with object)

underlay, underlain, underlying. 

1. to lie under or beneath; be situated under.

2. to be at the basis of; form the foundation of.

3. Grammar.,  to function as the root morpheme or original or basic form of (a derived form).

   The form “boy” underlies “boyish.”

4. Finance.,  to be primary to another right or security.

underlie

/ ˌʌndəˈlaɪ /

verb

1. to lie or be placed under or beneath

2. to be the foundation, cause, or basis of

   careful planning underlies all our decisions

3. finance to take priority over (another claim, liability, mortgage, etc)

   a first mortgage underlies a second

4. to be the root or stem from which (a word) is derived

   "happy" underlies "happiest"

Other Word Forms

• underlier noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underlie¹

before 900; Middle English underlyen (v.), Old English underlicgan. See under-, lie ²

Example Sentences

It should benefit from the underlying strength in the biotech space.

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What we found is that for much of this century, the global balance sheet outgrew the underlying economy that supports it.

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Rogers said Canadian companies and policymakers have been complacent about underlying structural problems with the domestic economy, notably moribund productivity and weak business investment.

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Conventional wisdom seemingly won the day with pollsters, who largely ranked teams with experienced upperclassmen quarterbacks ahead of those with better underlying numbers, but signal callers with less game day experience.

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Tension underlies the preparation for the festivities: Nick is arriving home after a stint of several months in a psychiatric institution, after crippling anxiety forced him to withdraw from college.

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Related Words

• control 
• curb 
• decide 
• determine 
• dominate 
• guide 
• handle 
• inhibit 
• manage 
• regulate 
• rule