undergo surgery

USAGE SUMMARY

'undergo surgery' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a medical process in which a person has a surgical procedure done. For example, "The doctor said that I would need to undergo surgery to repair my injured knee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Instead he will undergo surgery.

The New York Times - Arts

They undergo surgery, radiation and chemotherapy unnecessarily.

The New York Times

He is expected to undergo surgery.

The Guardian - Sport

Others undergo surgery (on "Emergency Vets").

The New York Times - Arts

He will undergo surgery on Friday.

The Guardian - Sport

He said Repent would undergo surgery Monday.

The New York Times - Sports

He will undergo surgery on Thursday.

The New York Times - Sports

McDyess will undergo surgery, performed by Scott, on Wednesday morning.

The New York Times - Sports

He will undergo surgery in the next few days".

The Guardian - Sport

He will undergo surgery today to stabilize his spine.

The New York Times

"Melissa will undergo surgery and the prognosis looks excellent".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "undergo surgery" with specific details about the procedure for clarity; for example, "undergo heart surgery" or "undergo knee surgery".

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice with "undergo surgery" (e.g., "surgery was undergone") can sound awkward. Prefer the active form where appropriate, such as "the patient underwent surgery".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undergo surgery" functions as a verb phrase, where "undergo" is a verb indicating the action of experiencing or receiving, and "surgery" is a noun referring to the medical procedure. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

33%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undergo surgery" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to indicate that someone will have or has had a surgical procedure. It's primarily used in News & Media and Science contexts, with a neutral to formal register. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability. When writing, be mindful of using active voice constructions. Related phrases include "have an operation" and "receive surgical treatment". Avoid awkward passive constructions and ensure clarity by specifying the type of surgery when possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have an operation

Replaces "surgery" with "operation" and "undergo" with "have", resulting in a more conversational tone.

have a surgical procedure

Replaces "surgery" with "surgical procedure", clarifying the type of medical intervention.

need an operation

Emphasizes the necessity of the operation for medical reasons.

receive surgical treatment

Substitutes "undergo surgery" with a more formal and clinical term, emphasizing the reception of treatment.

require surgical intervention

Indicates the necessity of surgery to address a medical issue.

be operated on

Changes the verb and restructures the sentence to focus on being the recipient of the surgical action.

be subjected to surgery

Uses a more passive and formal tone, indicating that surgery is being imposed or required.

experience surgical treatment

Frames surgery as an experience or event that one goes through.

get surgery

Uses a more informal phrasing for "undergo surgery", common in casual speech.

go under the knife

Employs an idiomatic expression to mean "undergo surgery", adding a touch of drama or concern.

FAQs

What does it mean to "undergo surgery"?

To "undergo surgery" means to have a surgical procedure performed on you for medical reasons. It implies that you are the patient receiving the surgery.

What are some alternative ways to say "undergo surgery"?

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

Is it correct to say "surgery was undergone"?

While grammatically possible, saying "surgery was undergone" is less common and can sound awkward. It's generally better to use the active voice and say "the patient underwent surgery" or "undergo surgery".

What is the difference between "undergo surgery" and "perform surgery"?

"Undergo surgery" refers to the patient's experience of receiving surgery. "Perform surgery" refers to the surgeon's action of carrying out the surgical procedure. The former is patient-focused, while the latter is surgeon-focused.