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
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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
Richard Sandomir, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Since the show had only recently opened on December 19, there was no time for understudies to get properly up to speed.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for understudy
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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
Her understudies were Britney Spears and Natalie Portman.
—Richard Sandomir, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Since the show had only recently opened on December 19, there was no time for understudies to get properly up to speed.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for understudy
Cite this Entry
“Understudy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/understudy. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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