undergrowth

noun

un·​der·​growth ˈən-dər-ˌgrōth How to pronounce undergrowth (audio)
: low growth on the floor of a forest including seedlings and saplings, shrubs, and herbs

Examples of undergrowth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Rabbits dance and rattlesnakes slither in the hazy undergrowth with the same rickety gestures as the towering creatures above, providing each new environment a comforting, organic feel. Sarah Thwaites, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2025 On my walks in the forest, I was struck by that lack of undergrowth, particularly a huge patch of Canadian Wood Nettle, a North America native that is a host plant for Red Admiral and Eastern Comma butterflies. Daryln Brewer Hoffstot Kristian Thacker, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 The overhead canopy of the dense forest had reduced the thick undergrowth of briars and brushes, allowing Dalene and me to stroll freely in whatever direction drew our attention. Bob Robinson, arkansasonline.com, 19 Jan. 2025 To protect it, the scientists cleared the undergrowth around the stenophylla and marked the location with stones. Marta Zaraska, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for undergrowth

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of undergrowth was in 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Undergrowth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undergrowth. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

undergrowth

noun
un·​der·​growth ˈən-dər-ˌgrōth How to pronounce undergrowth (audio)
: low growth on the floor of a forest including seedlings and saplings, shrubs, and herbs

More from Merriam-Webster on undergrowth

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