undergoing surgery

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undergoing surgery" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used when referring to a person or animal that is about to have an operation or is already in the process of receiving medical treatment. Example: Darla is currently undergoing surgery to remove her appendix.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He died undergoing surgery.

Independent

Lewis was shot and is undergoing surgery.

The New York Times

He said the men were undergoing surgery.

The New York Times

He spent 17 months undergoing surgery and convalescing.

The New York Times

Mr. Bowyer, 54, is expected to recover after undergoing surgery.

The New York Times

He died while undergoing surgery in New York City.

Princeton University

Preoperative anxiety is commonly reported by people undergoing surgery.

Journal of Clinical Anesthesia

Increasing numbers of older patients are undergoing surgery.

Journal of Surgical Education

Participants: Twenty adult patients undergoing surgery with CPB.

Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia

The driver was undergoing surgery for a severe head injury on Sunday night.

The Guardian - Sport

The software must necessarily never run amok and do unthinkable damage to the patient undergoing surgery.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "undergoing surgery", ensure the context clearly indicates the subject of the surgery and the type of procedure if relevant. For example, "The patient is undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions with "undergoing surgery". It's correct to say "undergoing surgery" or "undergoing surgery for", but avoid phrases like "undergoing surgery from" or "undergoing surgery because of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undergoing surgery" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that a person or animal is in the process of receiving surgical treatment. Ludwig confirms the correct usage of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "undergoing surgery" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase used to describe the act of receiving surgical treatment. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It appears most frequently in news and media, as well as in scientific contexts. Alternative phrases such as "having an operation" or "receiving surgical treatment" can be used depending on the desired nuance. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly defines who is undergoing the surgery and the reason for it. Avoid using incorrect prepositions such as "from" or "because of" with the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

having an operation

Focuses on the event of the operation itself.

receiving surgical treatment

Emphasizes the medical care aspect of the procedure.

being operated on

A more passive way of describing the experience.

scheduled for surgery

Indicates a future surgical event.

recovering from surgery

Focuses on the post-operative period.

in surgery

Implies the surgery is currently in progress.

under the knife

An idiomatic and slightly less formal way of saying undergoing surgery.

prepared for an operation

Highlights the preparatory phase before surgery.

going through a procedure

A broader term encompassing various medical interventions.

receiving medical intervention

A formal way to describe undergoing a procedure

FAQs

How do I use "undergoing surgery" in a sentence?

You can use "undergoing surgery" to describe someone who is currently having or scheduled for an operation. For example: "The patient is currently "undergoing surgery" to repair a broken leg."

What are some alternatives to "undergoing surgery"?

Alternatives include "having an operation", "receiving surgical treatment", or "being operated on". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "undergoing a surgery"?

While not grammatically incorrect, it's more common and natural to say just "undergoing surgery" without the article "a". You can also say "undergoing surgical treatment".

What's the difference between "undergoing surgery" and "recovering from surgery"?

"Undergoing surgery" refers to the time when the operation is happening or is planned to happen. "Recovering from surgery" refers to the period after the operation when the patient is healing.