Pronunciation: /ˌʌn.dərˈlaɪ.ɪŋ/
verb to lie or be situated under something
A1 I don't understand the underlying meaning of this poem.
A2 She is trying to explain the underlying reasons for her decision.
B1 The report will analyze the underlying causes of the economic crisis.
B2 The research aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms of the disease.
C1 The novel delves deep into the underlying themes of identity and belonging.
C2 The documentary explores the underlying complexities of human behavior.
adjective existing under or as a basis for something
A1 The underlying issue is that the machine is not plugged in.
A2 The underlying cause of the problem is a lack of communication.
B1 The underlying theme of the novel is the importance of friendship.
B2 The underlying motivation for her actions was fear of failure.
C1 The underlying assumption in the study was that all participants were honest.
C2 The underlying principles of the theory have been debated by experts in the field.
formal The research aims to uncover the underlying causes of the disease.
informal I think there's something else going on, something underlying the situation.
slang There's some shady stuff happening underneath, some underlying drama.
figurative Just like an iceberg, the underlying issues are often hidden beneath the surface.
underlied
underlyings
more underlying
most underlying
underlies
will underlie
has underlain
is underlying
underlying
underlying
to underline
underlying
underlain