underlie
verb (used with object)
to lie under or beneath; be situated under.
underlies
-
present tense formof underlie (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
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.
These help to dampen the chronic, low-grade inflammation that quietly underlies heart disease, diabetes and many cancers.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 10, 2026
This question underlies Naomi Kanakia’s snappily titled “What’s So Great About the Great Books?” a compelling if excessively cautious defense of classic literature.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
But five days after that, the DOJ notified the court in the Texas case that “the government has decided to maintain the definition” that underlies the ghost gun rule.
From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2026
By contrast, her father’s hypervigilance also underlies the narrative.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026
It is this that underlies his decision to declare war on ‘false rumour and the opinions of some, based on unreliable and untrustworthy foundations’.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
