underpass

noun

un·​der·​pass ˈən-dər-ˌpas 

: a crossing of a highway and another way (such as a road or railroad) at different levels

also : the lower level of such a crossing

Examples of underpass in a Sentence

We stood on the bridge and looked down at the underpass.

Recent Examples on the Web

The city of Elgin has been awarded a $3 million state grant to build an underpass along the Fox River Trail below the Kimball Street bridge. —Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025

Two underpasses costing $330,000 in the Lake Champlain Valley are a model effort showing how a Vermont community rallied behind thousands of tiny salamanders scurrying over the road yearly to safeguard the wildlife migrations. —Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025

The Route 31 underpass will be closed from 9 a.m. on June 2 until 5 p.m. on June 3, the release said, with a detour route available. —Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2025

One hot evening, a group of artists arrived with a projector, casting an image onto one side of the underpass. —Joe Rubin, Sacramento Bee, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for underpass

• candlemas
• fiberglass
• fibreglass
• hourglass
• isinglass
• lemongrass
• martinmas
• orchardgrass
• overpass
• plexiglas
• plexiglass
• sassafras

Kids Definition

underpass

noun

un·​der·​pass -ˌpas 

: a passage underneath something (as for a road passing under another road)