undergo

English

Etymology

From Middle English undergon, from Old English undergān (“to undergo, undermine, ruin”), equivalent to under- +‎ go. Cognate with Dutch ondergaan (“to undergo, perish, sink”), German untergehen (“to perish, sink, undergo”), Swedish undergå (“to undergo, go through”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌʌndɚˈɡoʊ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌʌndəˈɡəʊ/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊ
• Hyphenation: un‧der‧go

Verb

undergo (third-person singular simple present undergoes, present participle undergoing, simple past underwent, past participle undergone)

1. (transitive) To experience; to pass through a phase.

   Synonyms: go through, take, undercome

   The project is undergoing great changes.

   • 2013 January 1, Paul Bartel, Ashli Moore, “Avian Migration: The Ultimate Red-Eye Flight”, in American Scientist‎^[1], volume 101, number 1, archived from the original on 5 March 2016, pages 47–48:

     Many of these classic methods are still used, with some modern improvements. For example, with the aid of special microphones and automated sound detection software, ornithologists recently reported […] that pine siskins (Spinus pinus) undergo an irregular, nomadic type of nocturnal migration.

   • Experience definition

     The effect upon the judgment or feelings produced by any event, whether witnessed or participated in; personal and direct impressions as contrasted with description or fancies; personal acquaintance; actual enjoyment or suffering. (1 of 5 experience definitions)

   • Pass Through definition

     To go through, to travel through, to transit or lie across a place or from one place to another. (1 of 4 pass through definitions)

   • Phase definition

     A distinguishable part of a sequence or cycle occurring over time. (1 of 12 phase definitions)

   • Go Through definition

     To travel from one end of something to the other. (1 of 8 go through definitions)

   • Take definition

     To get into one's hands, possession, or control, with or without force. (1 of 90 take definitions)

   • Undercome definition

     To come under; experience or suffer the effects of; be affected by; undergo. (1 of 3 undercome definitions)
2. (transitive) To suffer or endure; bear with.

   Synonyms: brook, put up with; see also Thesaurus:tolerate

   The victim underwent great trauma.

   She had to undergo surgery because of her broken leg.

   • Suffer definition

     To undergo hardship. (1 of 5 suffer definitions)

   • Endure definition

     To continue or carry on, despite obstacles or hardships; to persist. (1 of 6 endure definitions)

   • Bear definition

     (1 of 12 bear definitions)

   • Brook definition

     To bear; endure; support; put up with; tolerate. (1 of 3 brook definitions)

   • Put Up With definition

     To endure, tolerate, suffer through, or allow, especially something annoying. (1 of 2 put up with definitions)
3. (transitive, obsolete) To go or move under or beneath.

Translations

See also

• undergang

Anagrams

• go under, grounde, guerdon, ungored