below 1 of 3

preposition

Definition of belownext
1
as in beneath
in a lower position than for the photo she sat below everyone else, on the floor actually

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in after
subsequent to in time or order that ranks a little below a root canal on my list of things I'd want to experience

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

below

2 of 3

adverb

bi-ˈlō How to pronounce below (audio)
1
as in underneath
in or to a lower place the skipper climbed below to fix the engine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in down
toward or in a lower position when rock climbing I just know that if I look below, I'll become paralyzed with fear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

below

3 of 3

adjective

as in lower

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of below
Preposition
Both numbers are a small increase from 2024 but still below 2019 levels. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 15 July 2026 Film descriptions are below with language courtesy of Film at Lincoln Center. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 July 2026
Adverb
See the rest of its midseason slate and the full fall schedule below. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 14 July 2026 See the full list of additions to Rooftop’s summer film series below, with all synopses provided by Rooftop. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 14 July 2026
Adjective
In practical terms, swapping a below-average coach for an above-average one in the NBA is worth roughly 14 extra wins per season. — Bydr. Corrie Block, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 OpenStreetsPGH 2026 routes map The below map shows route points for both the June and July OpenStreetsPGOH events. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for below
Recent Examples of Synonyms for below
  1. beneath
  2. after
  3. underneath
  4. down
  5. lower
  6. under
  7. behind
  8. bottom
Preposition
  • On Saturday, rescue crews aided by dogs and detectors found signs of life, confirming that at least one survivor was still trapped beneath the rubble.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • Marble fireplaces and bespoke timber joinery soften a palette of black, white and brushed brass, while parquet floors bring warmth beneath the clean geometry.
    — Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of beneath
Preposition
  • Life-threatening flash flooding has hit southern Texas after days of torrential rain, leaving at least two people dead and hundreds of people rescued across the same region struck by last July’s catastrophic floods.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • One of the corrective actions involves modifying the engine startup sequence on the Super Heavy booster during its flip maneuver after separating from the Starship upper stage a few minutes after liftoff.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026
Definition of after
Adverb
  • Most of all, the finale did in miniature what the season has done throughout — pull the rug out from under Paula, and from under the viewers, by presenting a set of facts, and then revealing just how much more lies underneath.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 15 July 2026
  • And a single national unemployment rate can make the economy look stable while opportunity is being rationed unevenly underneath.
    — Katica Roy, Fortune, 14 July 2026
Definition of underneath
Adverb
  • After going scoreless for a match and a half, down 1-0 at home against the National Women’s Soccer League’s best team on Friday night, the Kansas City Current had finally had enough.
    — The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
  • Their two other runs came in the ninth inning, down 23-2 against third baseman Jorbit Vivas on the mound.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of down
Adjective
  • And ultimately, the Supreme Court overruled those lower court rulings and did declare the embryos as children qualifying under the wrongful death statute.
    — Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024
  • Lower gas demand amid increasing supply has led to lower pump prices.
    — Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 19 June 2023
Definition of lower
Preposition
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • Objects indispensable to a population’s survival are prohibited as military targets under the Geneva Conventions.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Definition of under
Preposition
  • Yet behind the festive atmosphere lies a tradition rooted in the worship of deities and rituals of protection.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • Jude Bellingham brought up the rear, with Thomas Tuchel just behind him.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of behind
Adjective
  • The secret to the shoe’s cross-functional success lies in its rugged bottom layer.
    — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
  • The ball is cut back to the Lazio man, who meets it first time with a right-foot shot into the bottom corner.
    — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of bottom

Phrases Containing below

Browse Nearby Words

beloveds
below
belowground
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Below.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/below. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on below

Nglish: Translation of below for Spanish Speakers

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of raffish

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All