underneath

1 of 2

preposition

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

2 of 2

adverb

1

: under or below an object or a surface : beneath

2

: on the lower side

underneath adjective

Synonyms of underneath

Adverb

• beneath
• under
• below

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

Preposition

Lacob was seated with her legs tucked underneath her on a fluffy couch in the living room of her Mediterranean-style estate. — Melanie Thernstrom, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

The star even walked the runway at Paris Fashion Week that year, wearing a T-shirt printed with his own face — a nod to bootleg shirts sold all over the world — underneath a thick fur coat. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 28 June 2026

Adverb

Whether any of it rebuilds the businesses underneath — or merely spends down the cultural equity these brands have left while On and Hoka bank the runners — is the one result the scoreboard at MetLife on July 19 will not show. — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

Using a cake spatula under the dough, gently lift it, scooting flour underneath if needed, to make sure dough will not stick to the surface. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Preposition

Middle English undernethe, preposition & adverb, from Old English underneothan, from under + neothan below — more at beneath

First Known Use

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing underneath

• the underneath
• underneath it all

Rhymes for underneath

• beneath
• bequeath
• sheath
• teeth
• wreath

Kids 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 adverb

1

: 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