un·der·study
ˈən-dər-ˌstə-dē 
ˌən-dər-ˈstə-
understudied; understudying; understudies
: to study another actor's part in order to substitute in an emergency
: to prepare (a part or character) as understudy
also
: to prepare as understudy to (an actor)
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
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
Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2024
The brevity is, of course, a function of Joe Biden’s catatonic debate performance, ensuing Democratic panic and the president’s overnight replacement in the shank of summer by his vice presidential understudy, Kamala Harris.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for understudy 
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
In his first season with the Saints, Rattler was meant to serve as Derek Carr’s understudy.
—Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2024
The brevity is, of course, a function of Joe Biden’s catatonic debate performance, ensuing Democratic panic and the president’s overnight replacement in the shank of summer by his vice presidential understudy, Kamala Harris.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for understudy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'understudy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Understudy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/understudy. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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