undergo

verb

un·​der·​go ˌən-dər-ˈgō 

underwent ˌən-dər-ˈwent  ; undergone ˌən-dər-ˈgȯn 

 also  -ˈgän

; undergoing ˌən-dər-ˈgō-iŋ 

-ˈgȯ(-)iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to submit to : endure

2

: to go through : experience

undergo a transformation

3

obsolete : undertake

4

obsolete : to partake of

Synonyms

• endure
• experience
• feel
• have
• know
• pass
• see
• suffer
• sustain
• taste
• witness

Examples of undergo in a Sentence

She will have to undergo an operation.

some people undergo a complete transformation while away at college

Recent Examples on the Web

The Netflix film tells the story of Rita (Zoe Saldaña), a Mexican lawyer hired to help a cartel leader (Gascón) start a new life by faking their death and undergoing gender-affirming surgery. —Glamour, 31 Jan. 2025

Everly, also known as Evy, tore her meniscus and underwent surgery to repair it last year. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2025

Since then, the lander has been camped out in Earth orbit, undergoing systems checks and preparing to light its engines for a translunar injection burn, which will propel the probe on a four-day trajectory for the moon. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2025

The dog underwent surgeries at a specialty hospital in Connecticut. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

undergo

verb

un·​der·​go ˌən-dər-ˈgō 

underwent

-ˈwent

; undergone -ˈgȯn 

 also  -ˈgän

; undergoing -ˈgō-iŋ 

1

: endure sense 2

undergo an operation

2

: to pass through : experience

undergoing a change