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 of beneath

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

The blazer was cut with sharp, sculptural shoulders and wide lapels, styled open to reveal a skin-baring polka-dot top beneath. —Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 4 Jan. 2026

The Eudoxus crater is visible just beneath and beyond the dark expanses of Mare Serenitatis (the Sea of Serenity) and Mare Tranquilitatis (the Sea of Tranquility), which served as the landing site of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Dec. 2025

Preposition

Two men pushed Hodges against a wall; one man reached beneath his protective visor and dug into his right eye with his thumb. —Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026

And while Americans’ overall ideological self-identification looks stable in the aggregate (37% very conservative/conservative, 34% moderate, 25% very liberal/liberal), a January 2025 Gallup poll shows that this steadiness hides tectonic tensions tugging beneath the surface. —Robert T.f. Downes, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026

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