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
Connecticut’s chief heating and energy assistance grant will increase this winter, according to a plan recently approved by state legislators, but aid remains below pre-pandemic levels. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2026 For comparison, hydrogen sulfide levels in most urban cities are typically below 1 part per billion. — Samhita M Ilango, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Adverb
My full tasting notes are below, but let’s get some important details out of the way first. — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 See the full list of Academy committees and affinity groups, with a description of their purpose, and a list of who is leading them, below. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Kyle Tucker received a gigantic contract this offseason and has been a below average hitter this year. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects a below-average Atlantic hurricane season this year, although that doesn’t eliminate the chances of a catastrophic storm. — ABC News, 22 July 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
  • Millions of dollars in agricultural equipment are stored beneath the lower seating bowl.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Using the streams as indicators of the groundwater flowing beneath them, Campbell is building a model to identify the best potential sites in Idaho for a subsurface dam.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of beneath
Preposition
  • The recovery ended a search that began on July 31 after the expedition, led by renowned climber Nirmal Purja, was swept away by an avalanche on Broad Peak.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Blood pressure problems can persist or worsen in the initial days and weeks after childbirth, and preeclampsia can first appear during the postpartum period.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of after
Adverb
  • One suggestion is to get a plastic keyboard cover to keep their beaks away from the keys themselves (although, as many in the thread also point out, parrots are smart enough to just take that cover off to get to the sweet, sweet keys underneath).
    — John Higgins, The Verge, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Multistory buildings and homes tumbled, trapping residents underneath.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of underneath
Adverb
  • In February, the Congressional Budget Office projected that the new requirements and other factors would push SNAP enrollment down over the next decade, falling below 34 million by 2036.
    — Geoff Mulvihill, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Reuters reported on August 13 that Ukraine's grain exports were down 76% year over year in the first half of August.
    — Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of down
Adjective
  • Despite those lower court rulings, the practice has continued nationally, said Gregory Chen, the senior director of government relations for the Immigration Lawyers Association.
    — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 3 Sep. 2025
  • 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
Definition of lower
Preposition
  • The pressure to win silverware might be off, but this summer is when Villa are entering into more unknowns than ever before under Emery.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Independent power producers supply about 40% of total capacity under long-term contracts signed after electricity generation was liberalized in the late 1990s.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of under
Preposition
  • The statues of Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion, spend the better part of a decade behind closed shutters.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • By halftime, baldness crept between the hashmarks, especially on Highmark Stadium’s south end (to the right if sitting behind the Bills bench).
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of behind
Adjective
  • Last year was a bit of a disaster when the Braves finished in the bottom portion of their division.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Southampton and Leeds were joined in the bottom three by Leicester City, whose first-choice goalkeeper Danny Ward also had a terrible season.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 21 Aug. 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 23 Aug. 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 prowess

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'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?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
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
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All