beneath

adverb be·neath \ bi-ˈnēth , bē- \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Examples: beneath in a Sentence

Definition of beneath

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.

See beneath defined for English-language learners

See beneath defined for kids

Examples of beneath in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of beneath from the Web

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

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.

Origin and Etymology of beneath

Middle English benethe, from Old English beneothan, from be- + neothan below; akin to Old English nithera nether — more at nether

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

beneath Synonyms

beneath

preposition

Definition of beneath

1 a : 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

See beneath defined for English-language learners

Examples of beneath in a Sentence

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 of beneath from the Web

Just as the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 revealed that the surface of the moon was better mapped than the Indian Ocean seafloor, the cave-rescue attempt shows that much beneath our feet is a mystery.

— jake maxwell watts, WSJ, "What Lies Beneath? Vague Mapping Complicates Thai Cave Rescue," 8 July 2018
Stepping off the structure, the thud of the earth beneath my feet came as a harsh, hard, reality.

— claire wolters, Philly.com, "I bounced on the world's biggest bounce house," 6 July 2018
For generations, children would play kickball, hide-and-seek and jump rope on a stretch of concrete at Weccacoe Playground, unaware the remains of 5,000 black Philadelphians were buried 18 inches beneath their feet.

— Washington Post, "Historic black burial site under playground to get memorial," 5 July 2018
What could be more ladylike than the way a pair of stilettos or pumps or even wedges can lengthen the leg and swagger the hips and add an element of danger to the ground beneath one’s feet?

— megan garber, The Atlantic, "What High Heels Can Teach About Gendered ‘Truths’," 26 June 2018
Which means the most crucial insights governing the Anthropocene may come less from studying the ground beneath our feet and more from turning our gaze to the heavens.

— lee billings, Scientific American, "Alien Anthropocene: How Would Other Worlds Battle Climate Change?," 13 June 2018
Sunday night, the Broadwaters stayed in their home; nobody from the county had yet told them the building was unsafe and Jeon had kept it from collapsing beneath their feet.

— cody boteler, baltimoresun.com, "Catonsville house only one deemed 'unsafe' after flooding in Baltimore County," 1 June 2018
Now instead of just looking out, diners will be able watch Seattle pass beneath their feet, making this the world's first spinning restaurant with a 37-ton see-through floor.

— CBS News, "Inside Seattle's Space Needle after its $100 million makeover," 24 May 2018
The volunteer group Project Recover announced earlier this week the plane was located beneath 213 feet (64 meters) of water.

— john rogers, Fox News, "Family rejoices at finding of soldier's World War II plane," 23 May 2018