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to underpin

to underpin

14 6.3
Support an idea or argument with facts and reasons
  • verb
  • /ˌʌndərˈpɪn/
  • Formal
translation icon : sustentar
  • Then we examine the World Health Organization's four underpinning values of a good health care system.
  • principle that underpins
  • assumption underpins
  • consensus that underpins

And so that underpins a shift in buying behaviour.

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Examples

  • A common sense of nationality is needed to underpin the claim for equal respect.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Mansfield finds academic research to be of great importance in underpinning industrial innovation.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Many of these principles already underpin social work and social care practice.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Clearly, the role of law helps underpin the notion of spontaneous order.

    Academic text (1999)
  • And so that underpins a shift in buying behaviour.

  • Governments create the rule of law necessary to underpin accountability, participation, transparency, and predictability in interactions.

    Academic text (1992)
  • As emphasized earlier, sound water resources development and management underpins the attainment of virtually all the Millennium Development Goals.

    Academic text (2008)
  • When all is said and done, it's the Egyptian chronology that underpins everything else that's being done throughout the rest of the known world.

  • Rich import-export merchants and the wealthy ulama constituted the social alliance underpinning Muhammad Ali's regime.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The scientist presented data to underpin her argument about climate change.

Synonyms

to support
vsto underpin
572 2.1

Give facts or evidence that show a claim is true

focuses more on adding a foundation of reasoning and broader backing
to corroborate
vsto underpin
111 9.0

Use evidence to show that a statement or idea is true

is broader, strengthening ideas beyond mere confirmation with reasoning
to underlie
vsto underpin
34 6.5

To be the base or main cause of something

adds active evidence or reasoning rather than merely being the base
to underly
vsto underpin
14 8.6

Be the main cause of a change or situation

provides evidence and reasoning to make ideas more firmly founded
to buttress
vsto underpin
  • Formal
9 7.1

To make an argument or idea stronger by adding facts

gives ideas a firm base with clear evidence and logical backing
to bear out
vsto underpin
7 4.7

Show by facts that something is true

is about adding a stable foundation of evidence and reasoning
to undergird
vsto underpin
  • Formal
4 8.2

Support something from below, like beams or trust

adds firm evidence or reasoning rather than acting only as a base
to substantiate
vsto underpin
  • Formal
2 7.4

To make an idea seem real or clear to others

focuses on giving a firm foundation through reasoning and proof
to buttress a claim
vsto underpin
  • Formal
6.7

To give more evidence or reasons to make a claim stronger

does this too but emphasizes building a lasting foundation of proof

How Strong

to buttress
  • Formal
9 7.1
to reinforce
99 3.9
to underpin
  • Formal
14 6.3
to bolster
84 4.3
to support
1.0

Surface Forms

underpin infinitive
underpinned past participle
underpinning present participle
underpins third person singular

Morphology

underpin = pin (transparent) = under + pin + under

The verb is directly formed from the productive prefix 'under-' plus 'pin' (to fasten/support), so the sense 'support' is a straightforward metaphorical extension.

Etymology

Underpin comes from two simple words: under meaning 'below' and pin meaning 'to fasten'. Imagining a pin placed under a shelf makes it easy to remember that to underpin an idea is to give it strong support.