underside
noun
un·der·side
ˈən-dər-ˌsīd 
ˌən-dər-ˈsīd
1
: the side or surface lying underneath
2
: a side usually hidden from sight
specifically
: the more unpleasant or reprehensible side
the underside of politics
Examples of underside in a Sentence
the underside of the table
The book explores the underside of human nature.
Recent Examples on the Web
Even though rubber is considered nonporous, seams, textured surfaces, and the underside of mats can trap moisture.
—
Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2026
Plants don’t have lungs, of course, but grapevines do breathe, absorbing oxygen and other atmospheric gases—including smoke—through small pores on the underside of their leaves, or by diffusion across the fruit’s thin, waxy skin.
—Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
The Juniper Tree’s protagonist carries on in the face of maternal abuse, a scandalous out-of-wedlock pregnancy, and a series of calamitous events that expose the dark underside of domesticity.
—Sara Krolewski, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
Wipe the undersides of the leaves the same way, carefully supporting the leaves from the top.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underside
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Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2026
Plants don’t have lungs, of course, but grapevines do breathe, absorbing oxygen and other atmospheric gases—including smoke—through small pores on the underside of their leaves, or by diffusion across the fruit’s thin, waxy skin.
—Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
The Juniper Tree’s protagonist carries on in the face of maternal abuse, a scandalous out-of-wedlock pregnancy, and a series of calamitous events that expose the dark underside of domesticity.
—Sara Krolewski, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
Wipe the undersides of the leaves the same way, carefully supporting the leaves from the top.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for underside
Cite this Entry
“Underside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underside. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
underside
noun
un·der·side
ˈən-dər-ˌsīd
ˌən-dər-ˈsīd
: the side or part lying underneath
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