underside

noun

un·​der·​side ˈən-dər-ˌsīd How to pronounce underside (audio)
ˌən-dər-ˈsīd
1
: the side or surface lying underneath
2
: a side usually hidden from sight
specifically : the more unpleasant or reprehensible side
the underside of politics

Examples of underside in a Sentence

the underside of the table The book explores the underside of human nature.
Recent Examples on the Web He was taken by the uniquely efficient and strikingly beautiful circular arrangement of its five pointed teeth on the underside of its geometric body. New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024 Or the Apple mouse, with its port on the underside, rendering it unusable while charging. Allison Morrow, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 The female beetle bores a tiny, round hole on the underside of a twig and lays eggs inside. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2024 The missing panel was on the underside of the aircraft where the wing meets the body and just next to the landing gear, United said. Claire Rush, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024 According to the airline, the panel is on the underside of the aircraft, where the wing meets the aircraft body just adjacent to where the landing gear deploys. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 Schreiber’s gruff, salt-of-the-earth Flynn lacks a threatening underside, like a rock without worms squirming beneath. Naveen Kumar, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Their limbs and undersides look almost creamy white, photos show. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2024 New underpass lighting at overpass at Hancock Street An LED lighting system is coming to the underside of the East Main Street overpass at Hancock Street. Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underside.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underside was in 1660

Dictionary Entries Near underside

Cite this Entry

“Underside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underside. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

underside

noun
un·​der·​side ˈən-dər-ˌsīd How to pronounce underside (audio)
ˌən-dər-ˈsīd
: the side or part lying underneath

More from Merriam-Webster on underside

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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