undergird

verb

un·​der·​gird ˌən-dər-ˈgərd How to pronounce undergird (audio)
undergirded; undergirding; undergirds

transitive verb

1
archaic : to make secure underneath
took measures to undergird the shipActs 27:17 (Revised Standard Version)
2
: to form the basis or foundation of : strengthen, support
facts and statistics subtly undergird his commentarySusan Q. Stranahan

Did you know?

When undergird was a new word in the 16th century, it was ships that were undergirded—that is, made secure below—and the undergirding was done by passing a rope or chain underneath. That literal sense has long since fallen out of use, but in the 19th century undergird picked up the figurative “strengthen” or “support” meaning that we still use. Centuries before anything was undergirded, however, people and things could be girded—that is, encircled or bound with a flexible band, such as a belt. Girding today is more often about preparing oneself to fight or to do something difficult, as in “girding themselves for an ideological battle.” About as old as gird is the word’s close relation, girdle, which originally referred to an article of clothing that circles the body usually at the waist; the girdles of today address the same anatomical territory but with the squeezy aim of making the waist look thinner. Gird also gives us girder, a noun referring to a horizontal piece supporting a structure.

Examples of undergird in a Sentence

the theory of evolution undergirds virtually all of modern biology
Recent Examples on the Web The intrigue: The Defense Department's green interest is also undergirded by more direct experiences: soldiers in senior roles who 10-20 years ago guarded fuel convoys in Iraq and Afghanistan; officers at bases damaged by stronger storms or inundated by regular floods from sea-level rise. Alan Neuhauser, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024 The consumer welfare principle undergirds the judge’s holding in Epic v. Apple – which stressed the welfare-beneficial aspects of Apple’s conduct. Alden Abbott, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 The United States and the Soviet Union were able to find a sustainable détente undergirded by more clearly articulated arms control agreements and spheres of influence that each side could live with. Dmitri Alperovitch, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2024 Japan has been contending with a rice shortage in recent months due to a mix of bad weather and an increase in tourists, undergirded by the country’s restrictive rice policies. Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for undergird 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'undergird.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of undergird was in 1526

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Dictionary Entries Near undergird

Cite this Entry

“Undergird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undergird. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

undergird

verb
un·​der·​gird ˌən-dər-ˈgərd How to pronounce undergird (audio)
: to make secure : brace up : strengthen
a life undergirded by religion
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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