underlie – Be located under. To lie under; be the cause or basis of something

(Pronounced un-der-lie)

To remember the definition of the word underlie, use the following mnemonic:

The teacher had to underline (underlie) nearly every word. The line lay under every spelling mistake but the cause of the spelling mistakes was wearing the wrong glasses.

Examples of underlie in a sentence

Anger and feelings of fear often underlie screaming episodes put on by toddlers. 

Feelings about race and religion often underlie or motivate political decisions. 

After explaining that inner ear issues often underlie balance problems, the doctor checked the woman’s ear for fluid.