underlie

American  

[uhn-der-lahy] / ˌʌn dərˈlaɪ /

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.

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underlie British  

/ 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"

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Other Word Forms

• underlier noun

Etymology

Origin of underlie

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

Example Sentences

The underlying technique of training a model on the outputs of another is very common for AI labs to use for internal optimization, the Allen Institute’s Lambert told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch

That has transformed the underlying economic logic of cities.

From The Wall Street Journal

The underlying concern: AI could soon upend the business models for companies from wealth management to trucking.

From The Wall Street Journal

For its studio and HBO Max streaming businesses this year, the company saw strong gains in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, a widely followed measure of underlying profitability.

From MarketWatch

I dismissed these misguided reactions, and the silly underlying implication that any criticism of a cleric regime puts all Muslims in an unflattering light.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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