undergo

verb

un·​der·​go ˌən-dər-ˈgō 

underwent ˌən-dər-ˈwent  ; undergone ˌən-dər-ˈgȯn 

 also  -ˈgän

; undergoing ˌən-dər-ˈgō-iŋ 

-ˈgȯ(-)iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to submit to : endure

2

: to go through : experience

undergo a transformation

3

obsolete : undertake

4

obsolete : to partake of

Synonyms

• endure
• experience
• feel
• have
• know
• pass
• see
• suffer
• sustain
• taste
• witness

Examples of undergo in a Sentence

She will have to undergo an operation.

some people undergo a complete transformation while away at college

Recent Examples on the Web

The Indiana product also couldn't crack former head coach Darvin Ham's lineups last year before undergoing a season-ending lumbar microdiscectomy in late March 2024. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

Amazon has undergone major cost-cutting efforts since 2022 under the direction of CEO Andy Jassy, laying off more than 27,000 employees, according to CNBC. —Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

While archival materials in Ade’s exhibition underwent metamorphosis and distillation, Timoteus took a cinematographic approach to archival history. —Hung Duong, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024

Poll workers and election staff around the country have been receiving threats of physical violence and in many locations have had to undergo security training. —Josh Margolin, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

undergo

verb

un·​der·​go ˌən-dər-ˈgō 

underwent

-ˈwent

; undergone -ˈgȯn 

 also  -ˈgän

; undergoing -ˈgō-iŋ 

1

: endure sense 2

undergo an operation

2

: to pass through : experience

undergoing a change