underlying

/ˌʌndərˈlaɪɪŋ/

Syllables un·der·ly·ing

Stress un-der-LY-ing

Phonics Breakdown

un

/ʌn/

short u

der

/dər/

er schwa

ly

/laɪ/

y vowel i

ing

/ɪŋ/

ng sound

Meaning

basic, fundamental, lying beneath the surface

Sound Reference

💡

un=/ʌn/(under) + der=/dər/(leader) + ly=/laɪ/(fly) + ing=/ɪŋ/(sing)

Example

We need to understand the underlying cause of the problem.