underneath

1 of 2

preposition

un·​der·​neath ˌən-dər-ˈnēth How to pronounce underneath (audio)
1
a
: directly beneath
write the date underneath the address
b
: close under especially so as to be hidden
treachery lying underneath a mask of friendliness
wore a swimsuit underneath his slacks
2
: under subjection to

underneath

2 of 2

adverb

1
: under or below an object or a surface : beneath
2
: on the lower side
underneath adjective

Examples of underneath in a Sentence

Preposition He hid the envelope underneath his coat. She slipped a note underneath the door. The ball rolled underneath the car. He lives in the apartment underneath mine. There was gum stuck underneath the table. Underneath her calm exterior was a nervous woman with a hot temper. They actually had a lot in common underneath their obvious differences. Adverb He wore a white sweater with a red shirt underneath. She lifted up the rock and found ants crawling underneath. The car had rust underneath.
Recent Examples on the Web
Preposition
The missing panel was on the bottom side of the fuselage, underneath the wing and behind the main landing gear, United Spokesperson Leslie Scott told CNN. Pete Muntean, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 Once the Biden regime began building tunnels underneath American immigration law, the resulting stampede of migration from all over the world began trampling down the very geographic features that had protected the U.S. from mass migration from South America. Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 12 Mar. 2024 Instead of going braless in a mesh gown, Paltrow wore a sheer turtleneck over a tiny black bra, all layered underneath a smart black blazer with satin lapels. Glamour, 9 Mar. 2024 Mollie's family members, including her mother and sisters, were killed by men over their rights to oil reserves located underneath their reservation in Oklahoma. Mia McNiece, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 The two victims were trapped underneath the boat and were subsequently pronounced deceased, prosecutors said. USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 LaKeith Stanfield pulled an even wilder version of this move, with a wide-open collared shirt underneath a Saint Laurent jumpsuit. Dave Schilling, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 The smoke originated from underneath the bus’ dashboard, the video shows, according to a Nov. 2 statement issued by Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2024 Both companies include text underneath their chatbots describing them as works in progress. Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Woolley lifted a protective sheet; underneath was a sleek black Corvette Stingray that once belonged to Slash. Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 Idris and Sabrina Elba arrived in style, with Sabrina wearing a nude Versace dress from the Fall/Winter 2001 runway collection with a wet look effect, possibly made from leather, while Idris wore an all-black suit with a black tie and a black button down underneath. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 17 Mar. 2024 Its incredibly glossy exterior—the smoothest surface in the solar system—hides a vast liquid ocean underneath. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 While one of the children, a 3-year-old girl, was able to free herself, the 2-year-old and their mother reportedly remained trapped underneath. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024 Drawers underneath give each kid their own storage and leave the center of the room as a middle ground for play dates and activities. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Mar. 2024 Welcome to Silicon Desert: How Biden helped boost an Arizona boomtown Residents typically own their houses but lease the land underneath. Jeanne Whalen, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Usher, 45, wore a bold black-and-white houndstooth-print trench coat, a black button-down shirt and black pants that revealed a hint of denim underneath. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 10 Mar. 2024 But, within the dusty center, a powerful hot neutron star may be lurking underneath, according to a new study published in Science. Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Preposition

Middle English undernethe, preposition & adverb, from Old English underneothan, from under + neothan below — more at beneath

First Known Use

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of underneath was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near underneath

Cite this Entry

“Underneath.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underneath. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

underneath

1 of 2 preposition
un·​der·​neath ˌən-dər-ˈnēth How to pronounce underneath (audio)
1
: right under
wore their bathing suits underneath their clothes
2
: under the control of

underneath

2 of 2 adverb
1
: under or below an object or an outside part
soaked through the jacket to the shirt underneath
2
: on the lower side
a pot blackened underneath

More from Merriam-Webster on underneath

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