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

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

Indeed, buried beneath that voluminous bustle skirt was a fascinating leader. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "How Queen Victoria and Prince Albert Made Christmas Trees a Holiday Staple," 18 Dec. 2018 The crater lies beneath Hiawatha Glacier in northwestern Greenland. — Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, "Huge, previously unknown impact crater found beneath Greenland’s ice," 18 Nov. 2018 But beneath the attractive packaging lay a box of snakes on springs. — Margalit Fox, The Seattle Times, "Alan Abel, hoaxer extraordinaire, is (on good authority) dead at 94," 18 Sep. 2018 At least 110 people have died since Fuego erupted last Sunday, with almost 200 more believed to be still buried beneath the waste. — Abigail Van Buren, Houston Chronicle, "Talk of remarriage triggers questions about burial plots," 11 July 2018 His head might still be buried beneath the block of stone. — CNN, "Archaeologists uncover remains of man crushed as he fled Pompeii," 29 May 2018 Something was buried beneath the rubble in Oklahoma City, and it has never been found. — Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, "The Rise of the Victims’-Rights Movement," 14 May 2018 On more than one occasion, Gus has hidden beneath a blanket, secretly indulging in Minecraft. — Steve Brykman, Ars Technica, "Forget Fortnite—my son is still obsessed with Minecraft," 16 Dec. 2018 Roughly 550 miles east of Madagascar, Mauritius may also be home to a lost continent hiding beneath the waves. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Islands in the World: 2018 Readers' Choice Awards," 9 Oct. 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.