Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

underling

/ˈʌndɚlɪŋ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.24 in modern English

Syllables: un-der-ling
IPA: /ˈʌndɚlɪŋ/

11

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority.

noun

A low, wretched person.

Example Sentences

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings."
""I love not that underlings should perceive my wisdom.""
"His decision to stay at the compound in the face of possible assassination set an example, making it more difficult for his underlings to cut and run. “Anyone who left is a traitor,” Ruslan Stefanchuk, the speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, told its members a few hours after the invasion started."
"So read the email from Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, and a billionaire many times over. It would be read by more than 1,000 of his underlings at the company."

Etymology

From Middle English underling, from Old English underling. By surface analysis, under + -ling.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: underling

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈʌndɚlɪŋ/
British English: /ˈʌndəlɪŋ/

Inflected Forms

underlings (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

groundling hireling

Synonyms

superior subordinate subsidiary foot soldier

Antonyms

overling

Questions

How do you pronounce underling?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈʌndɚlɪŋ/.
What does underling mean?: A subordinate, or person of lesser rank or authority.
Where does underling come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce underling

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “underling”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈʌndɚlɪŋ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “underling”.
Repeat and practice — Say “underling” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.