undergo the operation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undergo the operation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a medical procedure that someone is about to experience or has experienced. Example: "After much consideration, she decided to undergo the operation to improve her health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

One day, she knows, she may have to undergo the operation herself.

The New York Times

Doctors assessed several patients medically and psychologically before choosing Cahill as the first to undergo the operation.

The Guardian

It was Davies' first game since May, when he ruptured knee ligaments and was forced to undergo the operation that put him out of the World Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. de Klerk was expected to enter a Cape Town hospital later Tuesday, undergo the operation and be released as early as Wednesday.

The New York Times

According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ethics committee, women – including girls under 18 – are choosing to undergo the operation because of increasing access to "unrealistic and narrow representations of vulval appearance in popular culture".

The Guardian - Opinion

Mortality in Caesarean deliveries has consistently been about 1½ times that of vaginal delivery, but it had been assumed that the difference was due to the higher risk profile of mothers who undergo the operation.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Mr. Torretta still did not have that in writing by the time he underwent the operation.

The New York Times - Health

"She probably feels that undergoing the operation is common sense but it probably does take a certain amount of courage to face it".

The Guardian - Film

All patients underwent the operation under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation combined with epidural anesthesia.

JA Clinical Reports

He spent the weekend in London, where he underwent the operation, before returning to Warrington on Sunday.

BBC

After Asiana Flight 214 crashed in San Francisco in July, passengers who suffered blunt-force head trauma also underwent the operation.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about medical procedures, consider your audience. While "undergo the operation" is acceptable, simpler terms like "have surgery" might be more accessible to a general audience.

Common error

Avoid consistently using overly formal language when discussing common medical procedures. While "undergo the operation" is correct, alternating with more conversational phrases prevents your writing from sounding stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undergo the operation" functions as a verb phrase describing the action of receiving or experiencing a surgical procedure. It typically involves a patient as the subject and an operation as the object. Ludwig AI provides multiple real-world examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

58%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undergo the operation" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to describe the experience of receiving a surgical procedure. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it appears frequently in both news and scientific contexts. While acceptable in most situations, simpler alternatives like "have surgery" may be more appropriate for informal settings. The phrase maintains a neutral to formal register, making it suitable for professional and medical discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have surgery

A more concise and commonly used alternative, focusing on the action of having surgery.

get the operation

Similar to 'have surgery', this emphasizes receiving the surgical procedure.

go through surgery

Highlights the experience and process of having surgery.

receive the operation

Focuses on the act of being given or provided the surgical procedure.

be operated on

Passive voice, emphasizing the patient as the recipient of the action.

be subjected to the operation

Implies a degree of imposition or necessity in undergoing the surgery.

submit to the operation

Suggests a formal agreement or acceptance of the surgical procedure.

experience the operation

Focuses on the personal encounter and sensation of undergoing surgery.

face the operation

Highlights the aspect of confronting a potentially challenging medical procedure.

endure the operation

Emphasizes the difficult or uncomfortable aspects of undergoing surgery.

FAQs

What does "undergo the operation" mean?

The phrase "undergo the operation" means to experience or receive a surgical procedure. It's a formal way of saying someone will have or has had surgery.

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

You can use alternatives like "have surgery", "get the operation", or "go through surgery" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "undergo the operation" or "have surgery"?

Both phrases are correct, but "have surgery" is generally more common and less formal. "Undergo the operation" is suitable for more formal or medical contexts.

Can I use "undergo the operation" in informal conversations?

While grammatically correct, using "undergo the operation" in informal conversations might sound overly formal. Simpler phrases like "have surgery" or "get surgery" are more appropriate.