underlie

[ uhn-der-lahy ]

verb (used with object)

, un·der·lay, un·der·lain, un·der·ly·ing.

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"

Derived Forms

• ˈunderˌlier, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underlie¹

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

Example Sentences

The core idea underlying our simulations is that competitive states should inform other competitive states.

From Ozy

He “forked” the code underlying a popular cryptocurrency project, essentially copy-pasting the open source software underpinning Uniswap, a so-called decentralized exchange, to create a rival project.

From Fortune

He’s asking the Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee on Wednesday to approve a new four-year contract with the Florida-based company that owns the underlying technology.

From Voice of San Diego

“Identification of the genetic factors that underlie extreme human lifespan should provide insights into the mechanisms of human longevity and disease resistance,” the authors said.

From Singularity Hub 

Thinking about the criminalization of things after the fact creates a future penalty but is not undoing underlying racism and hate.

From Ozy

Layers of history underlie most areas, and bones show up in the most inconvenient of building sites.

From The Daily Beast

Now, in the first study of its kind, neuroscientists have pinpointed the brain circuits that underlie unrealistic optimism.

From The Daily Beast

The concept of impulse control comes from a better understanding of the brain mechanisms that underlie self-restraint.

From The Daily Beast

These two wonderful products of Newton's genius underlie the whole structure of modern astronomy and modern mechanics.

From Project Gutenberg

The line of her long underlie drawn sharp to check her tears, stopped her speaking.

From Project Gutenberg

It is now engaged in discovering the unseen causes which underlie the objective effects we notice in the physical world.

From Project Gutenberg

At all events, two quite distinct views seem to underlie the opening books of the Old Testament.

From Project Gutenberg

Similar fundamental factors underlie the last great cultural change.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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