undergo

undergo — verb

1. to go through an event, process, or medical procedure that changes your situatio

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to go through an event, process, or medical procedure that changes your situation or body, often in a challenging way

Example

Hoa had to undergo surgery after breaking her ankle in a cycling accident.

collocation: undergo surgery

The company underwent major changes after the new CEO was appointed.

undergo + change (institutional context)

Common collocations
  • undergo surgery
  • undergo treatment
  • undergo testing
  • undergo changes
  • undergo transformation
  • undergo training
  • undergo repairs
  • undergo renovation
  • undergo examination
  • undergo an inspection
  • undergo a review
  • undergo hardship
  • undergo an ordeal
  • undergo a procedure
  • undergo therapy
Synonyms
  • experience

    broader and neutral emotionally; 'experience' covers both pleasant and unpleasant situations, while 'undergo' implies difficulty or transformation

  • go through

    more informal; used in everyday speech for similar contexts (go through surgery, go through a divorce)

  • endure

    stronger emphasis on suffering and perseverance; suggests the experience was painful or difficult to bear

  • face

    focuses on confronting something rather than completing it; you can face a challenge without necessarily undergoing the whole process

Antonyms
  • avoid

    deliberately staying away from an experience or situation

  • skip

    informal; choosing not to participate or go through something

Grammar Patterns

undergo + noun phrase (surgery / changes / testing / training / repairs)

Usage Note

Frequently used with objects related to medical treatment (surgery, therapy), institutional processes (testing, inspection), or significant transformation (change, renovation). In everyday conversation, go through is more common than undergo, which sounds more formal.

Common Mistakes

I underwent a bad cold last week.
I had a bad cold last week.
'undergo' is too formal for minor everyday illnesses.
The children underwent a fun afternoon at the zoo.
The children had a fun afternoon at the zoo.
'undergo' implies something serious or challenging, not a pleasant experience.

Word family

  • underwent
    verbB2
  • undergone
    verbB2
  • undergoing
    verbB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five verbs describe being affected by something, but they differ in formality, intensity, and focus. 'Undergo' is the most formal and implies a complete process — often medical, institutional, or transformative — that changes a person or thing. 'Experience' is the broadest and most neutral: you can experience joy, pain, growth, or boredom. 'Go through' shares the same core meaning as 'undergo' but is informal and used in everyday conversation (He went through a difficult divorce). 'Endure' adds a strong sense of suffering and perseverance, suggesting the experience was painful and required stamina (She endured years of radiation therapy). 'Face' focuses on the moment of confronting something rather than living through it (He faced a difficult decision). Use 'undergo' in formal writing, 'go through' in conversation, and 'experience' when the emotional tone is neutral or positive.

undergo ↗experience ↗go through ↗endure ↗face

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • undergo a major operation
  • undergo a significant change
  • undergo extensive testing

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Old English 'undergān' — a combination of 'under' (beneath) and 'gān' (to go). The original meaning was 'to go beneath or pass through.' By the 14th century, it had developed the modern sense of 'to experience or endure something.' The idea of passing through something — whether a tunnel, a trial, or a medical procedure — remains at the heart of the word.