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

Yet experts say pollen has been understudied in Arizona. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 21 Sep. 2024

Targeted efforts to address stillbirths, which have been understudied compared with infant mortality, are needed at state and national levels, said Dr. Andreea Creanga, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, in an email. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024

Noun

Baltazar-Shine’s understudy, sophomore setter Alexa Barajas, is the lone underclassman. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024

This leads to more problems as Guy’s understudy Oswald (Adam Pearson) – who has neurofibromatosis in real life – is everything that Guy is not. —Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 1 Oct. 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