Library / English Dictionary

UNDERWRITE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: underwritten    , underwrote   

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Guarantee financial support of

Example:

The opera tour was subvented by a bank

Synonyms:

subvent; subvention; underwrite

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "underwrite" is one way to...):

guarantee; undertake (promise to do or accomplish)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue underwrite the movie

Sense 2

Meaning:

Protect by insurance

Example:

The insurance won't cover this

Synonyms:

cover; insure; underwrite

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "underwrite" is one way to...):

guarantee; warrant (stand behind and guarantee the quality, accuracy, or condition of)

Verb group:

cover (to take an action to protect against future problems)

compensate; cover; overcompensate (make up for shortcomings or a feeling of inferiority by exaggerating good qualities)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "underwrite"):

reinsure (insure again by assuming all or a part of the liability of an insurance company already covering a risk)

indemnify (secure against future loss, damage, or liability; give security for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

underwriter (a financial institution that sells insurance)

underwriter (an agent who sells insurance)

Credits