beneath

adverb

be·neath | \bi-ˈnēth,

bē-\

Definition of beneath

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : in or to a lower position : below the mountains and the towns beneath

2 : directly under : underneath Look at the illustration and read what is beneath.

beneath

preposition

Definition of beneath (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : in or to a lower position than : below beneath the surface

b : directly under the ground beneath her feet

c : at the foot of a camp beneath a hill

2 : not suitable to the rank of : unworthy of a job that is beneath his dignity

3 : under the control, pressure, or influence of the chair sagged beneath his weight

4 : concealed by : under the guise of a warm heart beneath a gruff manner

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about beneath

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Synonyms & Antonyms for beneath

Synonyms: Adverb

below, under, underneath

Synonyms: Preposition

below, under

Antonyms: Adverb

Antonyms: Preposition

above, over

Examples of beneath in a Sentence

Adverb

the mountains and the towns beneath the sky above and the earth beneath an awning with chairs and tables beneath The ground beneath is covered with flowers.

Preposition

the sky above us and the earth beneath us just beneath the surface of the water The painting is hanging on the wall with a plaque beneath it. We had a picnic beneath a large tree. The paper was hidden beneath a pile of books. She wore a sweater beneath her coat.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

The solid permafrost that sits beneath many roads, buildings and pipelines is starting to thaw, destabilizing the infrastructure above. — Author: Brad Plumer, Anchorage Daily News, "‘Impossible to ignore’: Why Alaska is crafting a plan to fight climate change," 16 May 2018 As the sun beats down on a small vineyard by the rippling waters of Grossraeschen Lake, there's little sign of the vast wound that lies beneath. — Fox News, "How Germany is turning wasteland into vast lakeside resorts," 14 June 2018 The solid permafrost that sits beneath many roads, buildings and pipelines is starting to thaw, destabilizing the infrastructure above. — Author: Brad Plumer, Anchorage Daily News, "‘Impossible to ignore’: Why Alaska is crafting a plan to fight climate change," 16 May 2018 The solid permafrost that sits beneath many roads, buildings and pipelines is starting to thaw, destabilizing the infrastructure above. — Author: Brad Plumer, Anchorage Daily News, "‘Impossible to ignore’: Why Alaska is crafting a plan to fight climate change," 16 May 2018 But a rhythmic pattern thrums beneath, based on the grain of the wood the piece is painted on. — Cate Mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, "Meet six talented art-school grads," 27 Apr. 2018 But beyond a recognizable name, what history lurks beneath? — Tim Mckeough, New York Times, "A Prewar Building’s History Becomes an Amenity," 24 May 2018 The solid permafrost that sits beneath many roads, buildings and pipelines is starting to thaw, destabilizing the infrastructure above. — Author: Brad Plumer, Anchorage Daily News, "‘Impossible to ignore’: Why Alaska is crafting a plan to fight climate change," 16 May 2018 The solid permafrost that sits beneath many roads, buildings and pipelines is starting to thaw, destabilizing the infrastructure above. — Author: Brad Plumer, Anchorage Daily News, "‘Impossible to ignore’: Why Alaska is crafting a plan to fight climate change," 16 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Preposition

An emaciated 10-month-old puppy is clinging to life not quite two days after she was found buried beneath a pile of trash inside a Kenilworth Park apartment. — Mary Carole Mccauley, baltimoresun.com, "Emaciated puppy found under pile of trash is fighting for her life," 13 July 2018 The pork ribs went all fall-apart flabby beneath a smart, shiny bark ($13.49 a pound). — Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, "52 Weeks of BBQ: Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que," 13 July 2018 But beneath that corporate blanket statement lurks a handful of factors responsible for nearly all these untimely deaths. — Emma Grey Ellis, WIRED, "What Brought Sense8 Back—and What Killed It in the First Place," 8 June 2018 Lurking beneath all that the Sixers accomplished this season was a danger inherent in any preternatural success. — David Murphy, Philly.com, "Celtics' NBA playoff win teaches Sixers a lot about where they need to go from here | David Murphy," 10 May 2018 In winning the Oaks, Cox padded his career earnings by $564,200, enhanced his reputation and showed that beneath that 5 o’clock shadow lurks a man with a knack for close shaves. — Tim Sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "Rising star Brad Cox keeps Kentucky Oaks trophy at home in Louisville," 4 May 2018 There is no counting the secrets lurking beneath the facade of Westworld, which, honestly, is part of the fun. — refinery29.com, "America’s Next Top Model," 30 Apr. 2018 The anxieties that lurk beneath the tremendous ambition of Tesla Inc. moved into the forefront in recent weeks. — Dana Hull, Bloomberg.com, "Tesla Doesn’t Burn Fuel, It Burns Cash," 30 Apr. 2018 But beneath the warm and fuzzy images of adolescent couples lurks a disturbing willingness to tolerate abuses of power by police officers as long as their motives are pure. — Mark Graves, OregonLive.com, "Roosevelt High School 2018 prom photos from the Victorian Belle," 28 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'beneath.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.