undergo

verb

un·​der·​go ˌən-dər-ˈgō 

underwent ˌən-dər-ˈwent  ; undergone ˌən-dər-ˈgȯn 

also -ˈgän

; undergoing ˌən-dər-ˈgō-iŋ 

-ˈgȯ(-)iŋ

; undergoes

ˌən-dər-ˈgōz

transitive verb

1

: to submit to : endure

2

: to go through : experience

undergo a transformation

3

obsolete : undertake

4

obsolete : to partake of

Synonyms of undergo

• endure
• experience
• have
• see

Examples of undergo in a Sentence

She will have to undergo an operation.

some people undergo a complete transformation while away at college

Recent Examples on the Web

Zinc oxide can also contain trace heavy metal impurities such as lead, chromium and mercury, Downs said, and few products have undergone comprehensive ecotoxicity testing. —ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026

Leaders of the gardens have been undergoing a master planning effort for more than a year in an effort to accommodate visitation of the botanical garden doubling to more than 300,000 people annually over the past decade. —Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026

The suits are undergoing tests on the ground and in NASA’s spacewalk training pool in Houston. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026

The decision followed an MRI, which Stanton underwent in Texas prior to the series-opener. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for undergo

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Kids Definition

undergo

verb

un·​der·​go ˌən-dər-ˈgō 

underwent

-ˈwent

; undergone -ˈgȯn 

also -ˈgän

; undergoing -ˈgō-iŋ 

1

: endure sense 2

undergo an operation

2

: to pass through : experience

undergoing a change