Undergoes

Undergo is a verb meaning to experience or be subjected to something, often something challenging, transformative, or procedural. It is transitive and takes an object that represents the experience or process, as in “The patient underwent surgery” or “The company underwent a major restructuring.” It can refer to medical procedures, tests, treatments, inspections, changes, or events a person or organization experiences.

Etymology and forms: The word derives from Middle English undergon, from Old English undergangan, literally “to go under.” The sense expanded to mean to experience or endure a process. The standard forms are undergo (present), underwent (simple past), undergone (past participle), and undergoing (present participle). The third-person singular present form is undergoes. In modern usage, undergo is relatively formal and common in medical, legal, scientific, and official writing.

Usage notes: Undergo is used for experiences imposed or encountered by the subject, often implying duration or effort. It is less common for casual or voluntary experiences where “experience” or “go through” might be preferred. It collocates with procedures, tests, treatments, examinations, and transformations. The nuance emphasizes submission to or completion of a process rather than mere participation.

Examples:

- The patient underwent emergency surgery.

- The city underwent rapid expansion in the 1990s.

- Participants may undergo a screening test before enrollment.

- She underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy.