underpin

verb

un·​der·​pin ˌən-dər-ˈpin How to pronounce underpin (audio)
underpinned; underpinning; underpins
Synonyms of underpinnext

transitive verb

1
: support, substantiate
underpin a thesis with evidence
2
: to form part of, strengthen, or replace the foundation of
underpin a structure
underpin a sagging building

Examples of underpin in a Sentence

a wall underpinned by metal beams the central beliefs that underpin a free society
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Her refrains center the desires underpinning MAITREYA CORSO. Caitlin Wolper Phillips, Pitchfork, 4 May 2026 His deadpan humor comes through most brilliantly in Game Boy Tetris (2013–19), a parody of the logic of optimization that underpins capitalist culture. Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026 Quarterly earnings from the hyperscalers like Alphabet and Microsoft released this week showed solid cloud revenues underpinning capex that could top $1 trillion by the end of next year, and memory prices are poised to be a key driver of those costs. Tobias Burns, CNBC, 1 May 2026 What makes Bang for Buck different is that the functional aspect is underpinned by manufacturer-level facility specifications, such as operating data, equipment type, capacity and operating hours, said Kritika Chauhan, senior manager of sustainability and innovations at Shahi Exports. Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for underpin

Word History

First Known Use

1522, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underpin was in 1522

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Underpin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underpin. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

underpin

verb
un·​der·​pin -ˈpin How to pronounce underpin (audio)
1
: to give support to
underpin an argument with evidence
2
: to form part of, strengthen, or replace the foundation of
underpin a structure

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