Words / B2

und-uh-LEYE-ing/ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ/

Underlying means real but not immediately obvious: the underlying cause; underlying assumptions; underlying health conditions. Root is a close metaphor; basic is everyday and shallower. Underlie is the verb. Do not call a surface symptom the underlying cause without argument. Medicine and research methods both need the word.

Meaning

Real but not immediately obvious; lying beneath.

Examples

• “The underlying cause was understaffing, not one missed shift.”
• “State your underlying assumptions before you model the data.”

Good to know

the underlying cause / problem / assumption. Verb: underlie. Metaphor: root. Medicine: underlying conditions. Not the surface symptom.

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