Underlying Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

underlying

/ˌʌndɚˈlajɪŋ/

adjective

underlying

/ˌʌndɚˈlajɪŋ/

adjective

Britannica Dictionary definition of UNDERLYING

1

— used to identify the idea, cause, problem, etc., that forms the basis of something

• The argument relies on the underlying assumption that all criminals are dangerous.
• an underlying cause of the accident
• They're dealing with the symptoms but they haven't done anything about the underlying problem/disease.

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2

:

lying under or below something

• the ocean and the underlying rock

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