undergo

American

[uhn-der-goh] / ˌʌn dərˈgoʊ /

verb (used with object)

underwent, undergone, undergoing

to be subjected to; experience; pass through.

to undergo surgery.

Antonyms:

avoid
to endure; sustain; suffer.

to undergo sustained deprivation.

Synonyms:

tolerate, bear

undergo British

/ ˌʌndəˈɡəʊ /

verb

(tr) to experience, endure, or sustain

to undergo a dramatic change of feelings

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

undergoer noun

Etymology

Origin of undergo

First recorded before 1000; Middle English undergon, Old English undergān. See under-, go ¹

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.

Then, in February 2019, Buckingham suffered a heart attack and had to undergo triple bypass surgery.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

And I would give almost anything not to have to worry about my next set of scans or blood tests or to undergo another marrow biopsy.

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026

Typically, a major media deal of this size and complexity would undergo heavy regulatory review.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

Because they do not undergo approval by the FDA, they aren’t reviewed for safety or efficacy before coming to market.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

When a child learns language, they undergo a very extensive form of enculturation.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023