beneath

1 of 2

adverb

be·​neath bi-ˈnēth 

bē-

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

2 of 2

preposition

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

Synonyms

Adverb

• underneath

Preposition

• under
• underneath

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

Permeable paving was also installed in carparks, walkways, and other hard surfaces to allow water to pass through and soak slowly into the ground beneath. —Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025

The actor wore a navy blue suit with coordinated blazer and trousers, along with a darker collared shirt worn unbuttoned and a white shirt beneath for a final layered look. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 18 July 2025

Preposition

Yet beneath the spectacle is a story about conscience and guilt—a story of human connection that makes its revenge story all the more enrapturing. —Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025

In another of Salinger’s images, a constraint on the form that the future will take is already there: Lynne M., eighteen, shares her bedroom with her toddler daughter, whose white crib—beneath which lies a jumble of shoes and other detritus—mirrors her mother’s narrow white-metal daybed. —Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adverb and Preposition

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

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing beneath

• beneath contempt
• beneath one's dignity
• from beneath

Rhymes for beneath

• bequeath
• neath
• sheath
• teeth
• wreath
• underneath

Kids Definition

beneath

1 of 2 adverb

be·​neath bi-ˈnēth 

: in or to a lower position : below

beneath

2 of 2 preposition

1

a

: lower than : below

b

: directly under

2

: not worthy of

work beneath your dignity