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/
QueenslandRecorded 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
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