The AI-powered English dictionary
third-person singular simple present underpins, present participle underpinning, simple past and past participle underpinned
(transitive) To support from below with props or masonry. examples
(transitive, figuratively) To give support to; to form a basis of; to corroborate. quotations examples
Since Rupert Murdoch famously bet the farm on Premier League football to rescue Sky TV in 1991, it has been the catnip that has underpinned subscriber loyalty and, even in a far more complicated media landscape, is seen as so vital as to be worth almost any price.
2016 October 24, Owen Gibson, “Is the unthinkable happening – are people finally switching the football off?”, in The Guardian, London
The operator said the results were underpinned by a 16% increase in Q3 sales from North America.
2019 November 6, “Eurostar reports another increase in passengers”, in Rail, page 25