understudy

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understudy

/ˈʌndɚstʌdi/ US
/ˈʌndəstʌdi/ UK

verb understudies · understudying · understudied

transitive To study or know a role to such an extent as to be able to replace the normal performer when required.
transitive To act as an understudy (to someone).
transitive To act in a similar manner to some known person. That lean gentleman had apparently understudied Pharaoh of old and hardened his heart.

noun understudies

A performer who understudies; a standby for a study. For Wynne-Edwards, the role of the outcasts in the welfare of the group is to wait in the wings as understudies, ready to step into the shoes of any territory holder who dies on the main stage of group reproduction.
Similar: standby

Translations

Every language

verb to study or know a role to such an extent as to be able to replace the normal performer when required

Français	doubler
Română	dubla
Русский	вы́учить роль výučitʹ rolʹ

verb to act as an understudy

Español	suplantar
Italiano	sostituire
Română	înlocui, substitui
Русский	дубли́ровать dublírovatʹ, заменя́ть zamenjátʹ, замеща́ть zameščátʹ

noun performer who understudies

Español	suplente
Português	substituto, substituta
Français	doublure
Deutsch	Einspringer, Zweitbesetzung
Italiano	doppio
Română	dublură
Русский	дублёр dubljór

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Cite this

MLA

"understudy." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/understudy. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

understudy. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/understudy

Chicago

"understudy." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/understudy.

BibTeX

@misc{understudy_2026,
  title = {understudy},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/understudy},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}