verb
Meaning 1
To write below or under; subscribe.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
underwrite
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.
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/ˈʌndəɹaɪt/
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/ʌndəˈɹaɪt/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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CMU ARPABET: AH1 N D ER0 R AY2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
verb
Meaning 2
To subscribe (a document, policy etc.) with one's name.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
To sign; to put one's name to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
To agree to pay by signing one's name; subscribe.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
Specifically, to assume financial responsibility for something, and guarantee it against failure.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
To act as an underwriter.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: business, insurance
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 7
To support, lend support to, guarantee the basis of.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 8
To submit to; put up with.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 9
guarantee financial support of
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- The opera tour was subvented by a bank
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: subvention, subvent
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: undertake, guarantee
verb
Meaning 10
protect by insurance
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- The insurance won't cover this
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: cover, insure
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: guarantee, warrant
Narrower terms: reinsure, indemnify
History
Etymology
From Middle English underwriten, from Old English underwrītan (“to write at the foot of, write under, subscribe”). Compare Dutch onderschrijven (“to endorse”), German unterschreiben (“to sign; endorse”), Danish underskrive (“to sign; endorse”). By surface analysis, under- + write.
Across languages
Translations
9 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bulgarian: подписвам (podpisvam) — to assume financial responsibility for something
- Dutch: onderschrijven — to assume financial responsibility for something
- Finnish: allekirjoittaa — to assume financial responsibility for something
- German: unterschreiben — to assume financial responsibility for something
- Manx: fo-yial — to assume financial responsibility for something
- Polish: odpisać — to assume financial responsibility for something
- Polish: ubezpieczyć — to assume financial responsibility for something
- Spanish: suscribir — to assume financial responsibility for something
- Welsh: tanysgrifio — to assume financial responsibility for something