underside

noun

un·​der·​side ˈən-dər-ˌsīd How to pronounce underside (audio)
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 Press against breastbone: Turn chicken breast side up, and open the underside of chicken like a book. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2023 However, the underside of her length is splashed with honey-blonde tones, creating a distinct difference between the darkest hue at her roots and the lightest toward her ends. Marci Robin, Allure, 28 Nov. 2023 Relatively warm seawater is also eating away at the undersides of Antarctica’s ice shelves, causing grounding lines to retreat and generally accelerating the decline of ice sheets there. WIRED, 7 Nov. 2023 As the planet warms, larger volumes of warm water are bathing the undersides of West Antarctica’s ice shelves, the giant tongues of ice at the ends of glaciers. Raymond Zhong, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2023 The last showed the underside of a shelf that probably sustained the most damage from the Diet Coke explosion. Lizzy Rosenberg, Peoplemag, 21 Oct. 2023 For a truly classic look, the Fraser Firs come in a dark green hue with silver undersides. Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Nov. 2023 The flip-up dust brush is aptly named for its ability to be switched from the underside of the nozzle to the top in a flash, while the crevice tool is cleverly hidden inside and can be pulled out or pushed back when needed. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 24 Oct. 2023 To convert the machine from a blower into a vacuum, release the bottom latch on the underside of the device, and pop on the vacuum attachment in a matter of seconds. Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underside.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underside was in 1660

Dictionary Entries Near underside

Cite this Entry

“Underside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underside. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

underside

noun
un·​der·​side ˈən-dər-ˌsīd How to pronounce underside (audio)
ˌən-dər-ˈsīd
: the side or part lying underneath

More from Merriam-Webster on underside

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!