- important in a situation but not always easily noticed or stated clearly
- The underlying assumption is that the amount of money available is limited.
- Unemployment may be an underlying cause of the rising crime rate.
Extra Examples- Despite this month's disappointing figures, the underlying trend is healthy.
- He has no illusions about the underlying reality of army life.
- She was not sure what his underlying motives were.
- The joke did not obscure the underlying seriousness of her point.
- The underlying reasons for these differences will be explored in depth in the next chapter.
- Their policies have resulted in a definite underlying improvement in the economy.
- existing under the surface of something else
- the underlying rock formation
see also underlie
Check pronunciation:
underlying