under

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adverb un·der \ ˈən-dər \

Definition of under

1 :in or into a position below or beneath something

2 :below or short of some quantity, level, or limit

$10 or under

—often used in combination

understaffed

3 :in or into a condition of subjection, subordination, or unconsciousness

put the patient under for surgery

4 :down to defeat, ruin, or death

weaker competitors will be forced under

5 :so as to be covered

buried under by the avalanche

See under defined for English-language learners

See under defined for kids

Examples of under in a Sentence

Pull the bed sheets tight then fold the ends under.
He turned under his shirt's collar.
The whale surfaced briefly then dove under again.
The bridge was too low for the ship to sail under.
A score of 60 is needed to pass; anything under is failing.
They had to put me under for surgery.

Recent Examples of under from the Web

Saturday is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and Sunday is 1-3 p.m. Children 12 and under get in free courtesy of Buffalo Wild Wings.

— joe songer, AL.com, "Rick & Bubba Outdoor Expo is this weekend at the BJCC," 25 Aug. 2017
Her home, along with her neighborhood, was going under.

— ted jackson, NOLA.com, "Life below zero - the 'tent people' a year beyond the Louisiana Flood of 2016," 13 Aug. 2017
Admission is $35 for adults, $5 for students and free for children 12 and under.

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, "Florida Girl With Rare Brain Tumor Uses Art to Give Back to the Hospital That Saved Her," 10 Aug. 2017
Tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under.

— sharma howard, courant.com, "Albano Ballet Showcases Young Dancers In ‘Peter and the Wolf’ At Mohegan," 25 July 2017
Kids 12 and under can get a free hot dog and chips during Family Fest.

— cincinnati enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "Hamilton County Roundup: Anderson Days, SharonFest and a famous yard sale," 21 July 2017
Kids 12 and under can get a free hot dog and chips during Family Fest.

— jennie key, Cincinnati.com, "SharonFest 2017, the party with a purpose, kicks off July 28," 20 July 2017
Before the game, the first 1,000 kids 12 and under will receive a 1990s Barons Alternate Throwback Jersey.

— mark heim, AL.com, "Florida running back can't wait to 'beat the brakes off Michigan'," 18 July 2017
Wilson advised that the only option to halt the garnishment and keep him from going under was to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

— grace schneider, The Courier-Journal, "Identity theft? High school dropout sees wages taken by government to repay student loan," 6 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'under.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of under

Middle English, adverb & preposition, from Old English; akin to Old High German untar under, Latin inferus situated beneath, lower, infra below, Sanskrit adha

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

under Synonyms

Synonyms

beneath, below, underneath

Antonyms

Related Words

beside, near, nearby

Near Antonyms

aloft, overhead

under

preposition

Definition of under

1 :below or beneath so as to be overhung, surmounted, covered, protected, or concealed by

under sunny skies

a soft heart under a stern exterior

under cover of darkness

2 a :subject to the authority, control, guidance, or instruction of

served under the general

under the terms of the contract

a program that runs under any operating system

b :receiving or undergoing the action or effect of

under pressure

courage under fire

under the influence of alcohol

the image of a point under a mapping

under oath

3 a :within the group or designation of

under this heading

b :having as name or title

traveling under an alias

4 :less or lower than (as in size, amount, or rank); especially :falling short of a standard or required degree

under the legal age

under par

See under defined for English-language learners

Examples of under in a Sentence

They couldn't climb over the wall, so they dug a hole under it.
Draw a line under each word you don't know.
We sat under a tree and rested a while.
I'm wearing a sweater under my jacket.
The ball rolled under the car.
How long can you hold your breath under water?
The cafe is under new management.
The army captured three forts while under the general's command.
He has been under a lot of pressure at work lately.
You will be under anesthesia during the operation.

First Known Use of under

before 12th century

under Synonyms

Synonyms

beneath, neath [dialect], below

Antonyms

above, over

Related Words

underneath

under

adjective

Definition of under

1 a :lying or placed below, beneath, or on the ventral side —often used in combination

the ocean's undercurrents

the underside of a car

b :facing or protruding downward —often used in combination

the undersurface of a leaf

2 :lower in rank or authority :subordinate —often used in combination

the undersecretary of defense

3 :lower than usual, proper, or desired in amount, quality, or degree —often used in combination

undernourished children

Recent Examples of under from the Web

Spanish authorities tweeted that a man was under arrest and being treated as a terrorist.

— matthew lee, chicagotribune.com, "U.S. condemns Barcelona attack, pledges justice for terrorists," 17 Aug. 2017
Of course, this crisis doesn’t solve the larger looming one over the under-representation of women in the tech industry.

— adam galinsky, Fortune, "Google’s Anti-Diversity Crisis Is a Classic Example of Right vs. Right," 9 Aug. 2017
The potatoes, which Maine is so well noted for, were starting to flower and form the under ground tubers.

— tom maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Ditch lilies, petunias and more in Maine," 24 July 2017
The death of an Anderson Township man is under investigation as a homicide.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "Sheriff investigating first homicide in Anderson Township since 2014," 18 July 2017
Kushner’s meetings with Russian officials and business executives have come under scrutiny as the investigation has probed links between the Trump campaign and the Russians.

— toluse olorunnipa, Bloomberg.com, "Kushner to Visit Jerusalem and Ramallah to Push for Peace Deal," 19 June 2017
The cause of the fire had not been determined and was under investigation as of 8 a.m.

— joshua sudock, Orange County Register, "Family of 4 displaced after fire burns through their Garden Grove home," 18 Jan. 2017

First Known Use of under

13th century

UNDER Defined for English Language Learners

under

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adverb

Definition of under for English Language Learners

: in or into a position that is below or beneath something; especially : in a position that is below the surface of water
: in a forward direction that passes below something
: less than an expected or stated number or amount

under

preposition

Definition of under for English Language Learners

: in or to a lower place than (something) : below or beneath (something)
: guided or managed by (a person or group)
: controlled or affected by (something)

UNDER Defined for Kids

under

play

adverb un·der \ ˈən-dər \

Definition of under for Students

1 :in or into a position below or beneath something

The dog squeezed under the fence.

2 :below some quantity or level

ten dollars or under

under

preposition

Definition of under for Students

1 :lower than and topped or sheltered by

under a tree

2 :below the surface of

under the sea

3 :in or into such a position as to be covered or hidden by

I wore a sweater under my jacket.

4 :commanded or guided by

Many soldiers served under George Washington.

5 :controlled or managed by

The restaurant is under new management.

6 :affected or influenced by the action or effect of

The disease is under treatment.

7 :within the division or grouping of

That information is under this heading.

8 :less or lower than (as in size, amount, or rank)

The candy costs under a dollar.

The package weighs under two pounds.

under

adjective

Definition of under for Students

1 :lying or placed below or beneath

2 :lower in position or authority Hint: The adjective under is often used in combination with other words.

underside

Medical Dictionary

under

play

adverb un·der \ ˈən-dər \

medical Definition of under

:in or into a condition of unconsciousness

put the patient under prior to surgery

under

preposition

medical Definition of under

:receiving or using the action or application of

an operation performed under local anesthesia

under

adjective

medical Definition of under

:being in an induced state of unconsciousness

given intravenously when the patient is under
—C. A. Birch

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Definition of under

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Origin and Etymology of under

under Synonyms

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under

Definition of under

Examples of under in a Sentence

First Known Use of under

under Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

under

Definition of under

Recent Examples of under from the Web

First Known Use of under

UNDER Defined for English Language Learners

under

Definition of under for English Language Learners

under

Definition of under for English Language Learners

UNDER Defined for Kids

under

Definition of under for Students

under

Definition of under for Students

under

Definition of under for Students

Medical Dictionary

under

medical Definition of under

under

medical Definition of under

under

medical Definition of under

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