un·der·neath
ˌən-dər-ˈnēth 
1
a
: directly beneath
write the date underneath the address
b
: close under especially so as to be hidden
treachery lying underneath a mask of friendliness
wore a swimsuit underneath his slacks
2
: under subjection to
underneath
adjective
Synonyms
Examples of underneath in a Sentence
Preposition
He hid the envelope underneath his coat.
She slipped a note underneath the door.
The ball rolled underneath the car.
He lives in the apartment underneath mine.
There was gum stuck underneath the table.
Underneath her calm exterior was a nervous woman with a hot temper.
They actually had a lot in common underneath their obvious differences.
Adverb
He wore a white sweater with a red shirt underneath.
She lifted up the rock and found ants crawling underneath.
The car had rust underneath.
Recent Examples on the Web
Essence, 22 Apr. 2024
Two large bins are included to store the toys neatly underneath the table.
—Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 21 Apr. 2024
Eckes died after being pinned underneath the vehicle.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2024
Deadlift Place a mini band underneath the ball of your right foot, holding the opposite end in both hands.
—Rozalynn S. Frazier, Health, 19 Apr. 2024
In Washington, in an election year, one’s thoughts on that topic form an extra drumbeat underneath the text.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2024
Thankfully, there have been no reports of anyone throwing keys onto I-94 underneath the Bagley Pedestrian Bridge.
—Detroit Free Press, 18 Apr. 2024
Oh, and don’t worry; this backpack can fit both underneath your airplane seat and in the overhead compartment.
—L.a. Hubilla, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
There is also uneasiness as Highland Copper currently has mineral rights underneath parts of the state park, while the state only has the surface rights.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
In the bridge’s heyday, this contraption raised and lowered its three main sections for boats to pass underneath.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2024
Some shoppers even add a crinoline underneath to give the skirt a really vintage vibe and extra volume.
—Lauren Taylor, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2024
Laser measurements onboard identified carbon-rich material on the surface that insulates an ice pack underneath.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
During the most recent campaign, divers removed 34 ancient pottery vessels from the stern of the ship and found some unique markings underneath, the museum wrote in an April 11 post on X, formerly Twitter.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
The 42-year-old anchor wore a baby pink three-piece ensemble, which included a blazer, a vest underneath and a mini pencil skirt.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
For example, a Michigan resident who is part Irish and part Lebanese could check the box for White, then check the Irish box underneath, and then also check the MENA box, and check the Lebanese box underneath.
—Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
The video shows a bag, with feet sticking out from underneath, move up to the porch and swallow a package.
—Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Preposition
The two-toned monochromatic jacket cinched at her waist in a flattering way while underneath a flowing gray layer was draped just grazing the back of her white pointed-toe boots.
—Essence, 22 Apr. 2024
Two large bins are included to store the toys neatly underneath the table.
—Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 21 Apr. 2024
Eckes died after being pinned underneath the vehicle.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2024
Deadlift Place a mini band underneath the ball of your right foot, holding the opposite end in both hands.
—Rozalynn S. Frazier, Health, 19 Apr. 2024
In Washington, in an election year, one’s thoughts on that topic form an extra drumbeat underneath the text.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2024
Thankfully, there have been no reports of anyone throwing keys onto I-94 underneath the Bagley Pedestrian Bridge.
—Detroit Free Press, 18 Apr. 2024
Oh, and don’t worry; this backpack can fit both underneath your airplane seat and in the overhead compartment.
—L.a. Hubilla, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
There is also uneasiness as Highland Copper currently has mineral rights underneath parts of the state park, while the state only has the surface rights.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
Adverb
Cox, meanwhile, sported a contrasting ensemble, made up of a white jacket and matching pants, as well as a white shirt worn underneath.
—Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
In the bridge’s heyday, this contraption raised and lowered its three main sections for boats to pass underneath.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2024
Some shoppers even add a crinoline underneath to give the skirt a really vintage vibe and extra volume.
—Lauren Taylor, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2024
Laser measurements onboard identified carbon-rich material on the surface that insulates an ice pack underneath.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
During the most recent campaign, divers removed 34 ancient pottery vessels from the stern of the ship and found some unique markings underneath, the museum wrote in an April 11 post on X, formerly Twitter.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
The 42-year-old anchor wore a baby pink three-piece ensemble, which included a blazer, a vest underneath and a mini pencil skirt.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
For example, a Michigan resident who is part Irish and part Lebanese could check the box for White, then check the Irish box underneath, and then also check the MENA box, and check the Lebanese box underneath.
—Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
The video shows a bag, with feet sticking out from underneath, move up to the porch and swallow a package.
—Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underneath.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near underneath
Cite this Entry
“Underneath.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underneath. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
underneath
1 of 2 preposition
un·der·neath
ˌən-dər-ˈnēth
1
: right under
wore their bathing suits underneath their clothes
2
: under the control of
underneath
2 of 2 adverb1
: under or below an object or an outside part
soaked through the jacket to the shirt underneath
2
: on the lower side
a pot blackened underneath
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