Undergo Meaning
/ˌʌndɚˈɡoʊ/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo experience; to pass through a phase.
verbTo suffer or endure; bear with.
Sentence Examples
The surgeon persuaded me to undergo an organ transplant operation.
The surgeon persuaded him to undergo an organ transplant.
They have introduced a new system whereby all employees must undergo regular training.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The patient will ____ surgery to remove the tumor next week.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The patient will need to ____ several medical tests before the surgeon can decide on the best course of action today.
Word Origin & History
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”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 2013 January 1, Paul Bartel, Ashli Moore, “Avian Migration: The Ultimate Red-Eye Flight”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 1, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2016, pages 47–48:
"The women underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which measures changes in blood flow that happen with brain activity, while being shown images of their grandchild, another child they didn’t know, an adult they didn’t know, and the same-sex parent of their grandchild."
— 2021 November 19, Madeline Holcombe, “Is your mom warmer with her grandkids than with you? A new study says blame biology”, in CNN:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The patient will ____ surgery to remove the tumor next week.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The patient will need to ____ several medical tests before the surgeon can decide on the best course of action today.