SINCE 1828
under
adverb
un·der
| \ ˈən-dər
\
\
Definition of under
(Entry 1 of 3)
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
under
prepositionDefinition of under (Entry 2 of 3)
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
2a
: 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
3a
: 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
under
adjectiveDefinition of under (Entry 3 of 3)
1a
: lying or placed below, beneath, or on the ventral side
—often used in combination the ocean's undercurrentsthe 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
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Synonyms & Antonyms for under
Synonyms: Adverb
Synonyms: Preposition
below, beneath, neath [dialect]
Antonyms: Adverb
Antonyms: Preposition
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Examples of under in a Sentence
Adverb
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.Preposition
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.
Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb
Admission is $10 for adults and free for members and children ages 12 and under. — Ysabelle Kempe, BostonGlobe.com, "Photo competitions, scavenger hunts, and extended summer hours," 3 July 2019 Per the study, an investor with access to that data who sold the top under-performing stocks short and purchased the top high-performing stocks ahead of quarterly reports could see returns of 4.95% over just a few days, after the cost of trading. — Tim Fernholz, Quartz, "You can make millions counting cars in parking lots from space," 26 June 2019 Admission is $25 and kids 12 and under get in free. — Kaila Contreras, Houston Chronicle, "Here are some events people in the Lake Houston area can look forward to on July 4th," 30 June 2019 Details: July 11-12, Stevenson School, Pebble Beach; $25 general, free 18 and under; tickets online at musikiwest.org or at the door. — Georgia Rowe, The Mercury News, "It’s a humdinger of a summer for SF Bay Area classical music fans," 20 June 2019 Their open play times are $10, but limited to kids 12 and under. — Andrea Reeves, Cincinnati.com, "What to do with your kids when it rains on summer break," 18 June 2019 Tech companies are just abiding by a 1998 law called the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which was intended to protect the privacy of children ages 12 or under. — Julie Jargon, WSJ, "How 13 Became the Internet’s Age of Adulthood," 18 June 2019 Adult admission is $2 or 3 canned goods for donation; children 12 and under get in free. — Anna Bauman, Detroit Free Press, "Opa! Greek festival to offer food, music, dancing this weekend in Troy," 17 June 2019 Admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the gate and free for students 18 and under. — courant.com, "Community News For The Farmington Valley Edition," 10 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Preposition
But if his time in Naples is anything to go by, Juve will be playing a high-pressing system next season, with an emphasis on passing football and confidence to play under pressure. — SI.com, "Why Juventus Will End Their Agonising Wait for Champions League Glory Next Season," 14 July 2019 But in general, the value of cavernous flagship stores is coming under pressure as more customers shop online and on their phones. — Jackie Wattles, CNN, "Struggling Barney's, a high-end Manhattan retailer, stares down an uncertain fate," 14 July 2019 Your palm is under more pressure than the back of your hand, and so your hand gets pushed backwards. — Rachael Lallensack, Smithsonian, "Five Scientific Findings That Could Lead to New Inventions," 13 July 2019 The tit-for-tat massacres reached a peak as Uganda, under international pressure, withdrew its troops from Bunia in 2003. — The Economist, "Killings in Congo’s north-east spark fears of a return to war," 13 July 2019 Nothing is a greater example of performing under pressure than what Cruz and London agree was Lance's best moment in the ring: the second round in his fight against Chris Dunn. — Robert Rimpson, The Courier-Journal, "MMA fighter Lance 'The Tornado' Lawrence is one fight away from his UFC dream," 12 July 2019 Bed Bath & Beyond is also under pressure from discounters TJ Maxx and its HomeGoods arm. — Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, "Is Bed Bath & Beyond is running out of time?," 12 July 2019 The deal came under scrutiny earlier this year following reporting by the Miami Herald. — Jill Colvin, The Denver Post, "Labor Secretary Acosta resigning amid Epstein deal scrutiny," 12 July 2019 The main reason for this is that healthcare resources have been diverted to deal with the Ebola outbreak, which still hasn’t been brought under control. — Benjamin Kagina, Quartz Africa, "DR Congo’s Ebola crisis has led to children dying from measles," 12 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
No one was under arrest as of early Saturday morning and the circumstances of the shootings are under investigation. — Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, "Second St. Paul shooting leaves 5 wounded, 1 critically," 29 June 2019 Police said both Hunt and a man named James Gray were under arrest as of Friday afternoon. — Loyd Brumfield, Dallas News, "Shooting suspect questioned after man wounded at Love Field-area apartments," 28 June 2019 The biker exemption is one of many carve-outs under consideration as officials haggle over the final details of a congestion pricing system this weekend. — Jimmy Vielkind, WSJ, "Motorcyclists May Steer Clear of New Congestion-Pricing Fee," 29 Mar. 2019 For the eyes, concentrate on the under eyes and tear ducts to effectively counteract dark circles. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "A Guide to Ageless Makeup for Women Over 50, According to an Industry Veteran," 27 Mar. 2019 Her base nearly complete, Marley goes in with NARS’s Radiant Creamy Concealer on the under eyes and contours the hollows of her cheeks before using a powder foundation to seal everything in. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "Watch Zuri Marley Do Her Full Valentine’s Day Date Night Beauty Look," 13 Feb. 2019 That role is now the under scrutiny by American authorities. — Natasha Khan, WSJ, "Meng Wanzhou, Huawei CFO and Founder’s Daughter, Has Been Face of Secretive Company," 6 Dec. 2018 After your face serum and moisturizer, apply a gentle eye cream to the under eyes and lids, like Kiehl’s avocado treatment. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "The Definitive Guide to Preventing Dry Skin—From a Top Dermatologist," 26 Oct. 2018 Hospital staff told the deputy Rangel left the room and walked out of the hospital despite being under arrest, court documents show. — Jay R. Jordan, Houston Chronicle, "Houston DWI suspect who escaped from hospital captured 5 days later," 18 June 2018These 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.
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Learn More about under
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
The Over and Under of It
The Over and Under of It
9 phrases from above and below
Dictionary Entries near under
Statistics for under
Last Updated
17 Jul 2019
Look-up Popularity
Time Traveler for under
The first known use of under was before the 12th century
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More Definitions for under
under
adverb
English Language Learners Definition of under
(Entry 1 of 2)
: 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
prepositionEnglish Language Learners Definition of under (Entry 2 of 2)
: 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)
See the full definition for under in the English Language Learners Dictionary
under
adverb
un·der
| \ ˈən-dər
\
\
Kids Definition of under
(Entry 1 of 3)
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
prepositionKids Definition of under (Entry 2 of 3)
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
adjectiveKids Definition of under (Entry 3 of 3)
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
under
adverb
un·der
| \ ˈən-dər
\
\
Medical Definition of under
(Entry 1 of 3)
: in or into a condition of unconsciousness
put the patient under prior to surgery
under
prepositionMedical Definition of under (Entry 2 of 3)
: receiving or using the action or application of
an operation performed under local anesthesia
under
adjectiveMedical Definition of under (Entry 3 of 3)
: being in an induced state of unconsciousness
given intravenously when the patient is under— C. A. Birch
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