Meaning of the word understudy in English

What does understudy mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

understudy

US /ˈʌn.dɚˌstʌd.i/
UK /ˈʌn.dəˌstʌd.i/
"understudy" picture

Noun

an actor who learns the role of another actor in a play so as to be able to replace them if necessary

Example:
She was the understudy for the lead role in the Broadway show.
The director asked the understudy to be ready to perform.

Verb

to learn (a role) as an understudy

Example:
She had to understudy the role of Juliet for several weeks.
He was asked to understudy the lead singer in case of illness.