underlying

UK: /ˌʌndə^rˈlaɪɪŋ/ US: /ˈʌndɚˌlaɪɪŋ/ ,(un′dər lī′ing)

From the verb underlie: (⇒ conjugate)

underlying is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

un•der•ly•ing /ˈʌndɚˌlaɪɪŋ/   adj. 

1. lying beneath something else:
   an underlying layer of rock.
2. fundamental;
   basic:
   an underlying cause.
3. that can be discovered only by close analysis or examination:
   Loyalty is the underlying theme of the story.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

un•der•ly•ing  (un′dər lī′ing), adj. 

1. lying or situated beneath, as a substratum.
2. fundamental;
   basic:
   the underlying cause of their discontent.
3. implicit;
   discoverable only by close scrutiny or analysis:
   an underlying seriousness in his witticisms.
4. Business (of a claim, mortgage, etc.) taking precedence;
   anterior;
   prior.
5. Linguistics belonging to an earlier stage in the transformational derivation of a sentence or other structure;
   belonging to the deep structure.

• underlie + -ing² 1605–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

underlying / ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ/ adjective

1. concealed but detectable: underlying guilt
2. fundamental; basic
3. lying under
4. (of a claim, liability, etc) taking precedence; prior

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

un•der•lie /ˌʌndɚˈlaɪ/   v. [~ + object] , -lay, -lain, -ly•ing. 

1. to lie under.
2. to form the foundation of.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

un•der•lie  (un′dər lī′), v.t. -lay, -lain, -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. Business [Finance.] to be primary to another right or security.

• Middle English underlyen (verb, verbal), Old English underlicgan. See under-, lie² bef. 900

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

underlie / ˌʌndəˈlaɪ/ verb ( -lies, -lying, -lay, -lain)(transitive)

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. to take priority over (another claim, liability, mortgage, etc)
4. to be the root or stem from which (a word) is derived: "happy" underlies "happiest"

ˈunderˌlier noun