The meaning of UNDERSTUDY is to study another actor's part in order to substitute in an emergency.

An understudy took over for the rest of the performance and the evening show. Understudies never know when they might have to go on.

An actor's or actress's understudy is the person who has learned their part in a play and can act the part if the actor or actress is ill.

In theatre, an understudy, referred to in opera as cover or covering, is a performer who learns the lines and blocking or choreography of a regular actor, actress, or other performer in a play. …

1. To study or know (a role) so as to be able to replace the regular performer when required. 2. To act as an understudy to.

Definition of understudy noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. understudy (to somebody) an actor who learns the part of another actor in a play so that they can play that …

UNDERSTUDY definition: to learn (a role) in order to replace the regular actor or actress when necessary. See examples of understudy used in a sentence.

understudy (third-person singular simple present understudies, present participle understudying, simple past and past participle understudied) To study or know a role to such an extent as to …

UNDERSTUDY meaning: an actor who prepares to take the part of another actor if that actor is unable to perform

understudy /ˈʌndəˌstʌdɪ/ vb ( -studies, -studying, -studied) (transitive) to study (a role or part) so as to be able to replace the usual actor or actress if necessary