SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
underpinning
noun
A supporting basis or foundation, often used in the plural.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
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Supporting foundation
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topUnderpinning can be physical or conceptual and often appears in the plural. Rationale is the supporting reasoning, while infrastructure concerns underlying facilities or systems.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See underpinning in use
Careful observation was the underpinning of her argument.
Careful cataloging formed an underpinning for the project, since visitors needed reliable information about what the collection contained.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license