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, neath [dialect], 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

Thick as thieves only hints at the relationship; like her Lee, his Jack lives beneath thick layers of contradiction and complexity. — Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, "Oscars 2019: Cast Your Ballot," 21 Feb. 2019 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Preposition

The eyes met at the top of his head, where a pair of miniature eyebrows sat beneath a curled piece of hair. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "Ezra Miller Wore Multiple Sets of Eyes for His Met Gala 2019 Makeup," 7 May 2019 Getty Images Priyanka Chopra decided to add lots of inches to her gorgeously full lob, which naturally hits right beneath her shoulders, last night at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. — Maya Allen, Marie Claire, "Priyanka Chopra Debuted Super-Long Hair at the 2019 BBMAs," 2 May 2019 Under the vehicle there are splitters ahead of the front wheels, a dimpled underbody cover beneath the battery, front and rear underbody spoilers, and rear-axle Gurney flaps. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "We’ve driven Audi’s first proper electric car, the 2019 e-tron SUV," 7 Dec. 2018 By studying the amount of cratons and orogens, researchers can compare the continental plates beneath Antarctica to other regions around the world. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Long-Lost Continents Under Antarctica Revealed in Old Satellite Data," 8 Nov. 2018 Two burners sit beneath a removable, nonstick grill grate and drip tray for easy use and cleaning. — The Editors, Outside Online, "Seven Steals at Huckberry’s Summer Sale," 12 July 2018 Metal plates beneath the grates help distribute heat evenly and vaporize drippings. — Hartford Courant, courant.com, "CNET: Get Fired Up About These New Gas Grills," 11 July 2018 There, the shifting of the tectonic plates beneath the parched desertscape produces a chaos of fire and gases that can be seen at the top of Erta Ale, which contains one of the world's six lava lakes. — Giannella M. Garrett, chicagotribune.com, "When planning a hike on an active volcano, safety before spectacle," 11 May 2018 For years, researchers have argued over the source of this water, whether it was fed by rainwater falling from the sky or from ice melting beneath the surface. — Nola Taylor Redd, Space.com, "Geometry Helps Solve the Mystery of Mars' Water," 13 July 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.