underpin
verb /ˌʌndəˈpɪn/
/ˌʌndərˈpɪn/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they underpin | /ˌʌndəˈpɪn/ /ˌʌndərˈpɪn/ |
| he / she / it underpins | /ˌʌndəˈpɪnz/ /ˌʌndərˈpɪnz/ |
| past simple underpinned | /ˌʌndəˈpɪnd/ /ˌʌndərˈpɪnd/ |
| past participle underpinned | /ˌʌndəˈpɪnd/ /ˌʌndərˈpɪnd/ |
| -ing form underpinning | /ˌʌndəˈpɪnɪŋ/ /ˌʌndərˈpɪnɪŋ/ |
- underpin something (formal) to support or form the basis of an argument, a claim, etc.
- The report is underpinned by extensive research.
- underpin something (specialist) to support a wall and make it stronger by putting metal, concrete (= a hard building material), etc. under it