underwrite
/ˌʌndəˈraɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈʌndɚrˌaɪt] /ˌʌndərˈraɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈʌndɚrˌaɪt] /ˈən-dər-ˌrīt How to pronounce underwrite (audio) ˈən-də-, ˌən-dər-ˈrīt, ˌən-də-/ (ame, mw)
underwrite — verb
- underwritepresent simple I / you / we / they
- underwriteshe / she / it
- underwrotepast simple
- underwrittenpast participle
- underwriting-ing form
1. When a bank, government, or large company promises to supply the money needed fo
When a bank, government, or large company promises to supply the money needed for a project or activity and agrees to pay any debts if things go wrong.
A group of international banks agreed to underwrite the new airport construction project.
underwrite + project (financial backing)
Without a major corporation to underwrite the festival, the organizers had to cancel it.
The city council voted to underwrite the cost of building the new public library.
Three private lenders offered to underwrite the start-up's product launch campaign.
If the government underwrites the railway project, construction can begin next spring.
- cancel
to decide not to go ahead with a project for lack of funding
文法句型
underwrite + noun phrase (project/event/activity)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a bank, government agency, or large corporation. The object is typically a project, event, or business activity — not a person.
常見錯誤
2. In insurance, when a company formally takes on the financial risk of possible da
In insurance, when a company formally takes on the financial risk of possible damage or loss and commits to paying compensation for it as stated in the policy.
Several large firms refused to underwrite insurance for buildings in the flood zone.
refused to underwrite (risk assessment decision)
The company agreed to underwrite a policy covering the cargo ship's Pacific crossing.
underwrite a policy
Before they underwrite your home insurance, they will inspect the roof and the electrical system.
The broker found an insurance group willing to underwrite the factory against fire and theft.
The insurer took two weeks to decide whether to underwrite the property risk.
文法句型
underwrite + noun phrase (policy/risk/property)
用法筆記
The object can be a type of insurance policy, the property being insured, or the risk itself. Frequently used in business-to-business contexts rather than personal insurance.
常見錯誤
3. When an investment bank promises to purchase any shares from a new stock offer t
When an investment bank promises to purchase any shares from a new stock offer that the general public does not buy, so the company raising money is guaranteed to receive the full amount.
The investment bank agreed to underwrite the technology company's initial public offering.
underwrite + initial public offering (IPO)
The bank chose to underwrite the stock issue and promised to buy any unsold shares.
Three major financial institutions competed to underwrite the energy firm's share sale.
Without a bank to underwrite the shares, the family business could not raise enough capital.
The deal requires a large bank to underwrite up to two million new shares.
- guarantee
broader; 'underwrite' is the specific financial mechanism used in share offerings
文法句型
underwrite + noun phrase (share issue/offering/sale)
用法筆記
This sense is specific to investment banking and stock markets. The subject is always an investment bank or a syndicate of banks. The object is the share issue or the offering itself.