Standard Lemma guide

underpin

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌʌn.dəˈpɪn/
  • Canada, General-American: /ˌʌn.dɚˈpɪn/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /ˌɐn.dəˈpɪn/
  • Queensland Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • New-Zealand: /ˌɐn.dəˈpən/
  • CMU ARPABET: AH1 N D ER0 P IH2 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To support from below with props or masonry.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • You should underpin the mine roof to prevent further collapse.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To give support to; to form a basis of; to corroborate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, transitive

Examples

  • Public confidence in politicians must underpin our democracy.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: underlie

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

support from beneath

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hold, support, sustain, hold up

4

verb

Meaning 4

support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The stories and claims were born out by the evidence

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: corroborate, bear out, support

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: match, fit, correspond, check, jibe, gibe, tally, agree

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1én Proto-Indo-European *h1entér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dhí Proto-Indo-European *-ér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dhér Proto-Germanic *under Proto-West Germanic *undar Old English under- Middle English under- English under- Proto-Germanic *pinnaz Proto-West Germanic *pinn Old English pinn Middle English pinne English pin English underpin From under- + pin.

Across languages

Translations

50 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: подпирам (podpiram) — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Bulgarian: укрепвам (ukrepvam) — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Czech: podepřít — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Dutch: funderen — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Dutch: schragen — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Finnish: tukea — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Finnish: pönkittää — To support from below with props or masonry
  • French: étayer — To support from below with props or masonry
  • German: untermauern — To support from below with props or masonry
  • German: stützen — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Italian: sostenere — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Italian: sorreggere — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Occitan: piejar — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Occitan: estançonar — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Polish: podtrzymywać — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Portuguese: escorar — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Russian: укреплять (ukrepljatʹ) — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Russian: усиливать (usilivatʹ) — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Spanish: apuntalar — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Spanish: sustentar — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Swedish: stödja — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Swedish: stötta — To support from below with props or masonry
  • Bulgarian: поддържам (poddǎržam) — To give support to
  • Chinese Mandarin: 支撐 /支撑 (zhīchēng) — To give support to
  • Czech: podepřít — To give support to
  • Dutch: ondersteunen — To give support to
  • Dutch: dragen — To give support to
  • Dutch: schragen — To give support to
  • Finnish: tukea — To give support to
  • Finnish: pönkittää — To give support to
  • French: étayer — To give support to
  • French: supporter — To give support to
  • French: soutenir — To give support to
  • German: unterstützen — To give support to
  • German: stützen — To give support to
  • German: untermauern — To give support to
  • Italian: sostenere — To give support to
  • Italian: sorreggere — To give support to
  • Italian: informare — To give support to
  • Occitan: apevar — To give support to
  • Polish: podtrzymywać — To give support to
  • Portuguese: sustentar — To give support to
  • Portuguese: fundamentar — To give support to
  • Portuguese: respaldar — To give support to
  • Portuguese: embasar — To give support to
  • Russian: подде́рживать (poddérživatʹ) — To give support to
  • Spanish: respaldar — To give support to
  • Spanish: sustentar — To give support to
  • Swedish: stödja — To give support to
  • Swedish: stötta — To give support to