| Underlie 1. (v. t.) To be at the basis of; to form the foundation of; to support; as, a doctrine underlying a theory. 2. (v. t.) To lie under; to rest beneath; to be situated under; as, a stratum of clay underlies the surface gravel. 3. (v. t.) To be subject or amenable to. 4. (v. i.) To lie below or under. 5. (n.) See Underlay, n., 1. Thesaurus Entries afford support, back, back up, be latent, bear, bear up, bed on, bolster, bolster up, bottom on, brace, build on, buoy up, buttress, carry, couch, cradle, crawl, crouch, crutch, cushion, escape notice, found on, give support, ground on, grovel, hibernate, hold, hold up, hug the earth, keep afloat, keep up, lend support, lie beneath, lie dormant, lie hid, lie low, lie prone, lie prostrate, lie under, lurk, mainstay, maintain, make no sign, pillow, prop, reinforce, set on, shore, shore up, shoulder, smolder, squat, stay, subsidize, subvention, support, sustain, underbrace, undergird, underpin, underset, upbear, uphold, upkeep |