underground

1 of 3

adverb

un·​der·​ground ˌən-dər-ˈgrau̇nd 

1

: beneath the surface of the earth

2

: in or into hiding or secret operation

underground

2 of 3

noun

ˈən-dər-ˌgrau̇nd 

1

: a subterranean space or channel

2

: an underground city railway system

3

a

: a movement or group organized in strict secrecy among citizens especially in an occupied country for maintaining communications, popular solidarity, and concerted resistive action pending liberation

b

: a clandestine conspiratorial organization set up for revolutionary or other disruptive purposes especially against a civil order

c

: an unofficial, unsanctioned, or illegal but informal movement or group

especially : a usually avant-garde group or movement that functions outside the establishment

underground

3 of 3

adjective

un·​der·​ground ˈən-dər-ˌgrau̇nd 

1

: being, growing, operating, or situated below the surface of the ground

2

: conducted by secret means

3

a

: existing outside the establishment

an underground literary reputation

b

: existing outside the purview of tax collectors or statisticians

the underground economy

4

a

: produced or published outside the establishment especially by the avant-garde

underground movies

underground newspapers

b

: of or relating to the avant-garde underground

an underground moviemaker

an underground theater

Synonyms of underground

Noun

• resistance

Adjective

• clandestine
• undercover
• covert
• sneak
• private

Examples of underground in a Sentence

Adverb

They had been living underground as fugitives.

Noun

I've ridden on the New York subway, the Paris Metro, and the London Underground.

joined the underground while still a teenager

Adjective

The drugs are supplied through an underground network.

She loves the city's underground music scene.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

The ground sometimes stank of the stuff, with open ponds that finally were ordered covered, with spills and seeps from wells and tanks that hinted at the long plumes of oily stuff underground. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Placing key assets underground protects them from surveillance while making conventional airstrikes less effective. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026

Noun

Finch was a defining force in L7’s uncompromising sound and attitude, helping establish the band as one of the most influential acts to emerge from the Los Angeles punk and alternative rock underground. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 19 July 2026

For the past half-decade, evilgiane and his Surf Gang collective have had their hands all over the quirkiest and most effervescent sounds of rap’s underground and mainstream. — Oba Awolowo, Pitchfork, 3 July 2026

Adjective

The $20 million capital improvement construction project included full demolition and reconstruction of the base’s aging tarmac and new underground fire-retardant reloading bays. — Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026

In the Himalayan region, fragile mountains, seismic activity and unpredictable underground conditions make tunnel projects especially risky. — ABC News, 21 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing underground

• go underground
• the underground

Rhymes for underground

• aboveground
• battleground
• belowground
• paperbound
• turnaround
• ultrasound
• wraparound
• abound
• aground
• around
• astound
• background

Kids Definition

underground

1 of 3 adverb

un·​der·​ground ˌən-dər-ˈgrau̇nd 

1

: below the surface of the ground

an underground passage

2

: in or into hiding or secret operation

the political party went underground

underground

2 of 3 noun

un·​der·​ground

ˈən-dər-ˌgrau̇nd

1

: a space under the surface of the ground

especially : subway sense 2

2

: a secret political group

especially : an organized body working in secret to overthrow a government or an occupying power

underground

3 of 3 adjective

un·​der·​ground ˈən-dər-ˌgrau̇nd 

1

: being, growing, operating, or located below the surface of the ground

an underground stream

2

: conducted secretly