- to undertake to purchase at an agreed price any unsold portion of (a public issue of shares, etc)
- to accept financial responsibility for (a commercial project or enterprise)
- to sign and issue (an insurance policy) thus accepting liability if specified losses occur
- to insure (a property or risk)
- to accept liability up to (a specified amount) in an insurance policy
- to write (words, a signature, etc) beneath (other written matter); subscribe
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
un•der•wrote
(un′dər rōt′, un′dər rōt′),USA pronunciation v.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- pt. of underwrite.
un•der•write /ˌʌndɚˈraɪt, ˈʌndɚˌraɪt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -wrote, -writ•ten, -writ•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to give or contribute a sum of money to guarantee the success of (an undertaking):to underwrite the building of a new library.
- [Insurance.]
- Businessto write one's name at the end of (a policy), thereby becoming responsible in case of certain losses.
- Businessto insure, as for a certain sum.
un•der•write
(un′dər rīt′, un′dər rīt′),USA pronunciation v., -wrote, -writ•ten, -writ•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
v.t.
- to write under or at the foot of, esp. under other written matter.
- to sign one's name, as to a document.
- to show agreement with or to support by or as if by signing one's name to, as a statement or decision.
- to bind oneself to contribute a sum of money to (an undertaking):Wealthy music lovers underwrote the experimental concerts.
- Businessto guarantee the sale of (a security issue to be offered to the public for subscription).
- [Insurance.]
- Businessto write one's name at the end of (a policy), thereby becoming liable in case of certain losses specified in the policy.
- Businessto insure.
- Businessto assume liability to the extent of (a specified sum) by way of insurance.
- Businessto select or rate (risks) for insurance.
v.i.
- to underwrite something.
- Businessto carry on the business of an underwriter.
- late Middle English, translation of Latin subscrībere to write underneath, sign, subscribe 1400–50
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
underwrite /ˈʌndəˌraɪt; ˌʌndəˈraɪt/ vb ( -writes, -writing, -wrote, -written) (transitive)
'underwrote' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):