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

Adverb

• below
• beneath
• under

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

This bounce house-slide combo offers plenty to enjoy: a water sprayer gun, the 8.5-foot-long slide, a splash pool, a climbing wall, and a tunnel underneath the slide. —Chauntel Brusie, Parents, 7 June 2024

The post began with a photo of Delevingne and Minke, born Leah Mason, kissing underneath a sunset in a grass field. —Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 6 June 2024

Adverb

During construction at a school in Italy, excavators and archaeologists pulled back the ground floor and foundation only to find hidden chambers buried underneath, according to a June 5 news release from the Superintendent of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the city of Reggio Calabria. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 7 June 2024

As a defender rushed underneath, Keep swung on the rim and the backboard shattered. —Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2024

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

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