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Underlie for Dummies

verb

pronunciation: ,əndə'laɪ

What does Underlie really mean?

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Underlie is a word that may at first sound a bit tricky or confusing, but fear not! I'm here to break it down for you in the simplest way possible. So, let's imagine you're building a house, right? Before you can even start putting up the walls, you need a strong foundation. Well, that's kind of what "underlie" means: it's like the foundation or base upon which something else is built.

Imagine you have a big, fluffy mattress on your bed. It's so comfy, right? Well, underneath that cozy mattress, there are springs or foam that provide support and make it all possible. Those springs or foam are what "underlie" the mattress. They are hidden beneath the surface, doing their job quietly but oh-so-importantly. In this case, the mattress is like the thing you can see or experience, and the springs or foam are what support and make it possible.

Now, the word "underlie" can also mean that something is the cause or explanation behind something else. It's like when you're trying to solve a mystery. You have all these clues, but you need to find that one crucial piece of evidence that explains everything. So, that piece of evidence, that missing link, "underlies" the whole mystery. It's the foundation upon which the solution is built.

So, to sum it all up, "underlie" means to be the foundation or support for something else or to be the cause or explanation behind something. It's like the quiet hero behind the scenes, making things possible or providing that missing piece to the puzzle.

I hope this explanation helps you understand the word "underlie"!

Revised and Fact checked by Emma Williams on 2023-10-29 21:32:19

Underlie In a sentece

Learn how to use Underlie inside a sentece

  • One example of 'underlie' is when a strong foundation supports a tall building.
  • Another example is how strong roots underlie a large and healthy tree.
  • An example of 'underlie' is how the concepts you learn in elementary school underlie the more advanced ones you learn in high school.
  • 'Underlie' can also be seen when the basic rules of grammar underlie the construction of sentences in a language.
  • Lastly, the principles of honesty and trustworthiness underlie strong and lasting friendships.

Underlie Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.