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Glite Dictionary
🎭 A backup actor 🎭 To learn a part
understudy

understudy

31 5.1
A person who learns another actor's role to replace them at short notice
  • noun
  • /ˈʌndərˌstʌdi/
: suplente
  • The director praised the understudy for her dedication to mastering the role, ensuring she was ready at a moment's notice.

So she was now the understudy to Gilda, who I was now living with.

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Examples

  • Do you ever find it nerve-racking to watch your understudies rehearse?

    Tall Girl 2 (2022)

  • The understudy goes on for the star and forgets her lines.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • - You are her understudy, are you not?

    Mimesis: Nosferatu (2018)

  • - Dad, look, I know you think I only got the part of an understudy, but this is a legitimate way into the theater.

    The Author, The Star and The Keeper (2020)

  • We need a new general understudy for our next revue.

    Star! (1968)

  • I didn't know Eve was your understudy until this afternoon.

    All About Eve (1950)

  • Teachers, of course, prefer to have their roles played by competent understudies.

    Academic text (1993)

  • As an actress, Ms. Rabinowitz, you may only be a mediocre understudy, but for this one show, you'll have to give the performance of your life.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • As the lead actor fell ill, the understudy confidently stepped in for tonight's performance.

  • The play went smoothly thanks to the talented understudy who was prepared to take over.

Synonyms

replacement
vsunderstudy
342 2.0

A person or thing that takes the place of another

is specifically trained to perform another's role when needed quickly
substitute
vsunderstudy
158 3.2

A person or thing that takes the place of another

is a trained backup who specifically learns the part to step in quickly
stand-in
vsunderstudy
23 4.2

A person who takes another person's place, for example in a performance or at work

learns the part in advance to replace at short notice
standby
vsunderstudy
16 3.7

A person or thing kept ready to use as a backup

knows the part and can perform it at short notice

How Permanent

replacement
342 2.0
stand-in
23 4.2
understudy
31 5.1
fill-in
6 3.5

Surface Forms

understudy singular
understudies plural

Morphology

understudy = study (semi-transparent) = under + study

The components 'under' + 'study' are interpretable (someone who studies a role), but the specialised theatrical meaning 'a substitute actor' is idiomatic and not fully predictable for all learners.

Etymology

Understudy (noun) comes from the parts under ('below' or 'in place of') and study ('learn'). It is an actor who learns a main role and is ready to take that role at short notice.