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

Amid the growing bedbug panic, Pietri wasn’t the only scientist who started wondering whether bedbugs’ potential as disease vectors had been understudied. —Kristen V. Brown, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024

Yet experts say pollen has been understudied in Arizona. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 21 Sep. 2024

Noun

In the play’s 21-year history on Broadway, only a handful of Black women have taken on the role of Elphaba as standbys and understudies. —Tamia Fowlkes, USA TODAY, 3 Dec. 2024

And in Brooklyn, the point of attack is Thomas, the former Kyrie Irving understudy who erupted for 43 points on 16-of-22 shooting from the field and 7-of-10 shooting from deep albeit in a losing effort against the Knicks on Friday. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 16 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1874, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1882, in the meaning defined above

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