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
Somehow this brief but meaningful chapter remained subterranean.
—
Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
The subterranean gym is well-sized for an 80-room hotel, and comes stocked with Technogym equipment and a dedicated fitness studio.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
There have been 99 subterranean passages discovered in the Southern District of California since 1993, according to the Justice Department.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026
The months-long investigation culminated in the seizure of more than a ton of cocaine and the arrest of four men accused of using the subterranean passageway to funnel drugs into the United States, according to a June 1 news release from federal prosecutors in Southern California.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 2 June 2026
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.
Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
The subterranean gym is well-sized for an 80-room hotel, and comes stocked with Technogym equipment and a dedicated fitness studio.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
There have been 99 subterranean passages discovered in the Southern District of California since 1993, according to the Justice Department.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026
The months-long investigation culminated in the seizure of more than a ton of cocaine and the arrest of four men accused of using the subterranean passageway to funnel drugs into the United States, according to a June 1 news release from federal prosecutors in Southern California.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for subterranean
Cite this Entry
“Subterranean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subterranean. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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
