understudy

1 of 2

verb

un·​der·​study ˈən-dər-ˌstə-dē 

ˌən-dər-ˈstə-

understudied; understudying; understudies

intransitive verb

: to study another actor's part in order to substitute in an emergency

transitive verb

: to prepare (a part or character) as understudy

also : to prepare as understudy to (an actor)

understudy

2 of 2

noun

un·​der·​study ˈən-dər-ˌstə-dē 

: one who is prepared to act another's part or take over another's duties

Examples of understudy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The defense can reload by retaining the talented youngsters who understudied this year. —Seth Emerson, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025

Jackson understudied in the first Broadway staging of the play after originating the work at Yale Repertory Theatre in 1987. —Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2024

Noun

But O’Neil felt his warnings that Wolves were risking their immediate future by not adding understudies had gone unheeded. —Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 15 Dec. 2024

With 2:03 left in the first quarter, Moss’s understudy, Levi Wallace, lost track of the Browns’ Elijah Moore up the left boundary, which turned into a 44-yard gain that gave the visitors a first-and-goal at the Denver 8. —Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1874, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1882, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

understudy

verb

un·​der·​study

ˈən-dər-ˌstəd-ē,

ˌən-dər-ˈstəd-ē

: to study another actor's part in order to be his or her substitute in an emergency

understudy noun