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
Did you know?
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
Which may seem odd, given that billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg have their own high-security subterranean retreats as preparations for the end times seemingly go more mainstream among the country's wealthiest people.
—
Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
The group uses a subterranean tunnel that’s literally beneath the Yellow Brick Road for the express purpose of evading animal slavery.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 22 Nov. 2025
Earlier this year the designer teamed with Donald Judd Furniture to overhaul the Saint Laurent Rive Droite boutique at 213 Rue Saint-Honoré as a cultural hub, complete with an exhibition space, books, records, stationery and a subterranean Sushi Park restaurant.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 18 Nov. 2025
All of that water weight exerts a steady downward pressure, suppressing rifting and magma flow, and keeping the subterranean region relatively quiescent.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subterranean
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
The group uses a subterranean tunnel that’s literally beneath the Yellow Brick Road for the express purpose of evading animal slavery.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 22 Nov. 2025
Earlier this year the designer teamed with Donald Judd Furniture to overhaul the Saint Laurent Rive Droite boutique at 213 Rue Saint-Honoré as a cultural hub, complete with an exhibition space, books, records, stationery and a subterranean Sushi Park restaurant.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 18 Nov. 2025
All of that water weight exerts a steady downward pressure, suppressing rifting and magma flow, and keeping the subterranean region relatively quiescent.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 12 Nov. 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 7 Dec. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share