Showing results for "underpinning"

• present participle of underpin.

underpinning

American  

[uhn-der-pin-ing] / ˈʌn dərˌpɪn ɪŋ /

noun

• underpinnings
  plural

1. a system of supports beneath a wall or the like.

2. Often underpinnings. a foundation or basis.

   to uncover the emotional underpinnings of an illness.

3. Informal. underpinnings,

   1. underwear, especially women's underwear.

   2. the legs.

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underpinning British  

/ ˈʌndəˌpɪnɪŋ /

noun

1. a structure of masonry, concrete, etc, placed beneath a wall to provide support

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• underpinnings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of underpinning

First recorded in 1480–90; under + pin + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

underpinning underpinnings

One of the most common assumptions underpinning the “Gen Z doesn’t drink” narrative is that young adults simply don’t want to go out anymore.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

“The ‘Full Fare Rule’ is a vital underpinning of modern flight shopping and must not be repealed or watered down in any way,” wrote Jason Rabinowitz on July 8.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

Arm’s architecture isn’t formally an industry standard, but it functions like one, underpinning hundreds of billions of chips central to America’s economy and national defense, with no viable alternative available for license.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

The maker of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp reaffirmed that it would keep spending heavily on the data centers and chips underpinning its AI effort.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

In the recognition by Pythagoras and Plato that the Cosmos is knowable, that there is a mathematical underpinning to nature, they greatly advanced the cause of science.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Yet there had to have been underpinnings to keep the group producing and its audience coming back for more on record and on stage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Christine Idzelis looked into the broad underpinnings of value stocks’ resurgence, which can set up a longer-term period of outperformance.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 18, 2026

“The Mandalorian and Grogu” takes the series’ thematic underpinnings — what parenting looks like between a masked human loner and an otherworldly toddler — and deepens them.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026

He charms the staff with his knowledge of these obscure machines – pointing out the bellows that power a church organ, and the pneumatic underpinnings of a piano roll player.

From BBC ● May 14, 2026

He became a full staff member of the Mount Wilson Observatory, learned many of the scientific underpinnings of his work and died rich in the respect of the astronomical community.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan