subterranean
adjective
sub·ter·ra·nean
ˌsəb-tə-ˈrā-nē-ən 
-nyən
variants
or less commonly subterraneous
ˌsəb-tə-ˈrā-nē-əs
-nyəs
1
: being, lying, or operating under the surface of the earth
2
: existing or working in secret : hidden
a subterranean network of criminals
subterraneanly
adverb
or less commonly subterraneously
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Go Underground With Subterranean
A tunnel is a subterranean road or pathway, and a subway is a subterranean railway. The subterranean vaults at Fort Knox hold billions of dollars of gold reserves. Subterranean reservoirs called aquifers are tapped for water; in places where the pressure on the subterranean water is great enough, a hole drilled in the ground will bring it bubbling to the surface.
Examples of subterranean in a Sentence
a subterranean bunker that supposedly could withstand even an atomic blast
Recent Examples on the Web
Just a few blocks from the festival is this subterranean boite, situated underneath Little Sister, an always-excellent Dutch-Indonesian restaurant.
—
Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
But while the area has been evacuated, a gang of robbers led by James is drilling into the subterranean vault of a nearby bank.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Fortunately, one of those admitted was filmmaker Werner Herzog, who was granted permission to bring small cameras into the subterranean limestone system to make a documentary.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
Things to Do Explore the Shenandoah Caverns Go beneath the surface at Shenandoah Caverns, a fascinating subterranean attraction.
—Tykesha Spivey Burton, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subterranean
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Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
But while the area has been evacuated, a gang of robbers led by James is drilling into the subterranean vault of a nearby bank.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Fortunately, one of those admitted was filmmaker Werner Herzog, who was granted permission to bring small cameras into the subterranean limestone system to make a documentary.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
Things to Do Explore the Shenandoah Caverns Go beneath the surface at Shenandoah Caverns, a fascinating subterranean attraction.
—Tykesha Spivey Burton, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subterranean
Cite this Entry
“Subterranean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subterranean. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
subterranean
adjective
sub·ter·ra·nean
ˌsəb-tə-ˈrā-nē-ən
-nyən
1
: being, lying, or operating under the surface of the earth
2
: existing or working in secret : hidden
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