underpinning
noun
un·der·pin·ning
ˈən-dər-ˌpi-niŋ 
1
: the material and construction (such as a foundation) used for support of a structure
2
3
: underwear
—usually used in plural
4
: a person's legs
—usually used in plural
Synonyms
Examples of underpinning in a Sentence
the underpinnings of the theory have recently been called into question
the underpinnings of the bridge were seriously damaged in the collision
Recent Examples on the Web
Lazaridis has dedicated his career to investigating the genetic and environmental underpinnings of rare liver diseases.
—
Susan Murphy, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2024
Machine learning is a particular field within artificial intelligence that has risen to prominence in recent years as the underpinning of most modern AI systems.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
The generative AI is devised with a probabilistic and statistical underpinning which pretty much guarantees that the output produced will vary each time.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Last year, Bar Pigalle took the No. 1 spot and Ladder 4, the popular wine bar with a French underpinning, was named the 2023 Restaurant of the Year.
—Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024
That’s because Deen has written an environmentalist allegory with absurdist underpinnings.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2024
Another step toward new drugs for Parkinson’s Building off of some landmark discoveries published last year, researchers have mapped out the biological underpinnings of Parkinson’s disease, creating a framework for medicines that might treat the root of the disease rather than just its symptoms.
—Damian Garde, STAT, 25 Jan. 2024
Her score was a suite of themes generated around Chisholm’s relationships with underpinnings of determination, ambition and, most importantly, her love of country.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024
Audi engineers have had some fun fettling the underpinnings of the GT, which, with all the ministrations of carbon fiber, carbon-ceramic brakes, and whatnot, loses a mere 33 pounds and weighs in at a still substantial 4,565 pounds.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2024
Susan Murphy, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2024
Machine learning is a particular field within artificial intelligence that has risen to prominence in recent years as the underpinning of most modern AI systems.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
The generative AI is devised with a probabilistic and statistical underpinning which pretty much guarantees that the output produced will vary each time.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Last year, Bar Pigalle took the No. 1 spot and Ladder 4, the popular wine bar with a French underpinning, was named the 2023 Restaurant of the Year.
—Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024
That’s because Deen has written an environmentalist allegory with absurdist underpinnings.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2024
Another step toward new drugs for Parkinson’s Building off of some landmark discoveries published last year, researchers have mapped out the biological underpinnings of Parkinson’s disease, creating a framework for medicines that might treat the root of the disease rather than just its symptoms.
—Damian Garde, STAT, 25 Jan. 2024
Her score was a suite of themes generated around Chisholm’s relationships with underpinnings of determination, ambition and, most importantly, her love of country.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024
Audi engineers have had some fun fettling the underpinnings of the GT, which, with all the ministrations of carbon fiber, carbon-ceramic brakes, and whatnot, loses a mere 33 pounds and weighs in at a still substantial 4,565 pounds.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underpinning.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near underpinning
Cite this Entry
“Underpinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underpinning. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
underpinning
noun
un·der·pin·ning
ˈən-dər-ˌpin-iŋ
1
: the foundation used for support of a structure
2
3
: a person's legs
—usually used in plural
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