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
The project also includes a basement, an attached subterranean garage, a swimming pool and associated site improvements including about 150 linear feet of retaining walls.
—
Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
The subterranean passageway shown to her by a residence staffer provided some relief.
—Darlene Superville, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
The hotel's new subterranean spa will debut in spring 2026 with a full slate of wellness offerings.
—Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Or, in this case, stored in offices at the world’s largest subterranean business complex, SubTropolis in Kansas City.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 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.
Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
The subterranean passageway shown to her by a residence staffer provided some relief.
—Darlene Superville, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
The hotel's new subterranean spa will debut in spring 2026 with a full slate of wellness offerings.
—Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Or, in this case, stored in offices at the world’s largest subterranean business complex, SubTropolis in Kansas City.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 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