UNDERLYING: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for UNDERLYING?

Need another word that means the same as “underlying”? Find 18 synonyms and 30 related words for “underlying” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Underlying” are: implicit in, inherent, fundamental, rudimentary, basic, basal, primary, prime, first, cardinal, central, principal, chief, key, elementary, elemental, intrinsic, essential

Underlying as an Adjective

Definitions of "Underlying" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “underlying” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Located beneath or below.
• Significant as a cause or basis of something but not necessarily manifest or obvious.
• Being or involving basic facts or principles.
• Lying or situated under something.
• In the nature of something though not readily apparent.

Synonyms of "Underlying" as an adjective (18 Words)

basal	Of or being the essential or basic part. A basal reader.
basic	Reduced to the simplest and most significant form possible without loss of generality. A coarse grained basic plutonic rock.
cardinal	Serving as an essential component. Cardinal numbers.
central	At the point or in the area that is in the middle of something. The central cause of the problem.
chief	Most important. The chief aim of living.
elemental	Related to or embodying the powers of nature. A thunderstorm is the inevitable outcome of battling elemental forces.
elementary	Of or pertaining to or characteristic of elementary school or elementary education. The elementary rights of citizenship.
essential	Absolutely necessary; vitally necessary. Essential tools and materials.
first	Ranking above all others. The first verse.
fundamental	So basic as to be hard to alter, resolve, or overcome. An example that was fundamental to the argument.
implicit in	Implied though not directly expressed; inherent in the nature of something.
inherent	(of an adjective) having the same meaning in both attributive and predicative uses. The president s inherent foreign affairs power.
intrinsic	Situated within or belonging solely to the organ or body part on which it acts. Access to the arts is intrinsic to a high quality of life.
key	Serving as an essential component. She became a key figure in the suffragette movement.
primary	Of primary importance. His expert handling of the primary and secondary literature is clear on every page.
prime	Of first importance; main. The prime minister.
principal	First in order of importance; main. The principal example.
rudimentary	Relating to an immature, undeveloped, or basic form. Rudimentary plans.

Usage Examples of "Underlying" as an adjective

• An underlying meaning.
• Underlying principles.
• The flu can be particularly severe for the elderly and those with underlying conditions.
• Guaranteeing more dollars may temporarily ease their troubles but will not alleviate the underlying causes of their poverty.
• Underlying problems need to be addressed.
• The underlying muscles of the face.

Associations of "Underlying" (30 Words)

basal	Especially of leaves; located at the base of a plant or stem; especially arising directly from the root or rootstock or a root-like stem. Basal placentation.
base	A known line used as a geometrical base for trigonometry. Base coins of aluminum.
basic	Pertaining to or constituting a base or basis. Basic changes in public opinion occur because of changes in priorities.
basilar	Of or relating to or located at the base. The basilar membrane of the cochlea.
constitutive	Relating to an enzyme or enzyme system that is continuously produced in an organism, regardless of the needs of cells. Language is constitutive of thought.
elemental	(of an emotion) powerful and primitive. A magical elemental desire.
elementary	Of or pertaining to or characteristic of elementary school or elementary education. The six stages take students from elementary to advanced level.
elements	Violent or severe weather viewed as caused by the action of the four elements. They felt the full fury of the elements.
essential	Basic and fundamental. Essential tools and materials.
essentially	In essence; at bottom or by one’s (or its) very nature. Essentially they are amateurs.
essentialness	Basic importance.
fundamental	A fundamental note tone or frequency. The theories are based on a fundamental error.
indispensability	The quality possessed by something that you cannot possibly do without.
indispensable	Not to be dispensed with; essential. Foods indispensable to good nutrition.
integral	The result of a mathematical integration F x is the integral of f x if dF dx f x. A local motion keepeth bodies integral.
main	Any very large body of (salt) water. The camcorder can be run directly off the mains.
meaningful	Communicating something that is not directly expressed. Meaningful elements in a language.
necessary	The basic requirements of life, such as food and warmth. A bag containing my wallet the money the necessary.
necessity	Anything indispensable. A good book is a necessity when travelling.
originally	From or in the beginning; at first. Potatoes originally came from South America.
premise	State or presuppose something as a premise. The reforms were premised on our findings.
prerequisite	Something that is required in advance. Latin was a prerequisite for admission.
primary	A primary feather. Primary sources.
radically	In a thorough or fundamental way; completely. The two situations are radically different.
requisite	Anything indispensable. She believed privacy to be a requisite for a peaceful life.
rudiment	The remains of a body part that was functional at an earlier stage of life. The fetal lung rudiment.
rudimentary	Relating to an immature, undeveloped, or basic form. These rudimentary truths.
staple	Attach or secure with a staple or staples. Merrill stapled a batch of papers together.
substantive	Any word or group of words functioning as a noun. Substantive law.
vital	Fatal. He felt the familiar knot contract in his vitals.