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

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

Seems that Karen — Ivy's understudy — is singing the song amid her absence at Bombshell's sitzprobe (a rehearsal in which singers perform with the orchestra for the first time together). —Dave Quinn, People.com, 10 Mar. 2025

The lawyers who constrained him, the generals who restrained him, the reporters who questioned him, the understudy who threatened him—the assorted producers and directors and designers and actors who had their own roles to play in the show—each, Trump fumed, dimmed his limelight. —Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1874, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1882, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for understudy

• bloody
• buddy
• cuddy
• muddy
• ruddy
• scudi
• study
• restudy

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