undergo an operation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undergo an operation" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is generally used when referring to a medical procedure. For example, you could say: "The patient chose to undergo an operation in order to remove the tumor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Taylor will undergo an operation in the coming days.

The Guardian - Sport

He was going to undergo an operation to create more space for the tumor.

The New Yorker

Of course, she must undergo an operation, and afterward — well, she would be her "old self" again.

The New Yorker

While Miss Higgins acted as nurse for Mr. Baruch, he had to undergo an operation for an ulcer.

The New Yorker

In December, the doctor, François-Xavier Roux, told Le Figaro, the French daily newspaper: "Kim Jong-il suffered a stroke but did not undergo an operation.

The New York Times

In December, the doctor, Francois-Xavier Roux, told Le Figaro, the French daily newspaper: "Kim Jong-il suffered a stroke but did not undergo an operation.

The New York Times

Emperor Akihito of Japan has been given a diagnosis of prostate cancer and will undergo an operation next month, the Imperial Household Agency said today.

The New York Times

"Of course there was the normal worry there always is when you undergo an operation … and an operation is always an operation.

The Guardian - Sport

Instead what Claire decided to do was bring forward her moment of corporeal contribution and undergo an operation to remove a kidney while she was alive and healthy.

The Guardian

The goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale, one of my best friends, was shot in the stomach and was flown to South Africa to undergo an operation to save his life.

The Guardian - Sport

But there was no way for him to pitch tonight without thinking of his mother, who will undergo an operation on Wednesday.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about medical procedures, ensure that you use "undergo an operation" to maintain a formal and professional tone. This phrasing is widely accepted in news reports, scientific publications, and formal documents.

Common error

Avoid using overly casual phrases like "going under the knife" in formal writing. While understood, they lack the professional tone conveyed by "undergo an operation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undergo an operation" functions as a verbal phrase, where "undergo" acts as the verb and "an operation" as the object. It specifies the action of receiving or experiencing a surgical procedure. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undergo an operation" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to describe the act of receiving a surgical procedure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a versatile phrase suitable for both formal and neutral contexts. While less common in purely informal settings, it maintains a level of professionalism and clarity. This phrase is prevalent in news reports, medical documentation, and scientific literature, reflecting its importance in communicating medical information accurately. Consider alternatives like ""have surgery"" or "be operated on" to vary your writing while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have surgery

Focuses on the general act of having a surgical procedure.

have a surgical procedure

Formal and directly refers to a defined procedure.

receive surgical treatment

Emphasizes the medical aspect and the reception of treatment.

be treated surgically

Focuses on the surgical aspect of the overall medical treatment.

be operated on

Highlights the patient as the recipient of the surgical action.

get operated on

A more conversational way of saying "be operated on".

require surgical intervention

Emphasizes the need for surgery as a solution.

go under the knife

An informal idiom for undergoing surgery.

experience a surgical intervention

Highlights the personal experience of undergoing surgery.

be subjected to surgery

Implies a degree of involuntariness or necessity in the surgery.

FAQs

What does "undergo an operation" mean?

To "undergo an operation" means to have a surgical procedure performed on your body for medical reasons.

How to use "undergo an operation" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "The patient will "have surgery" and "undergo an operation" next week to remove the tumor."

What can I say instead of "undergo an operation"?

You can use alternatives like ""have surgery"", "receive surgical treatment", or "be operated on" depending on the context.

Is "undergo a surgery" correct?

While "surgery" can sometimes be used as a verb, it's more common and grammatically standard to say ""undergo an operation"" or ""have surgery"".