underpin

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌʌndərˈpɪn/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(un′dər pin′)

Inflections of 'underpin' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
underpins
v 3rd person singular
underpinning
v pres p
underpinned
v past
underpinned
v past p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
un•der•pin  (un′dər pin′),USA pronunciation v.t., -pinned, -pin•ning. 
  1. to prop up or support from below;
    strengthen, as by reinforcing a foundation.
  2. to replace or strengthen the foundation of (a building or the like).
  3. to furnish a foundation for;
    corroborate:The author's conclusions are underpinned by references to experimental findings.
  • under- + pin 1515–25

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
underpin /ˌʌndəˈpɪn/ vb ( -pins, -pinning, -pinned) (transitive)
  1. to support from beneath, esp by a prop, while avoiding damaging or weakening the superstructure: to underpin a wall
  2. to give corroboration, strength, or support to
Collocations: underpin a [block, building, foundation], the [building] was underpinned, the [event, plight] underpins her book, more...

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