underpass

American  

[uhn-der-pas, -pahs] / ˈʌn dərˌpæs, -ˌpɑs /

noun

1. a passage running underneath, especially a passage for pedestrians or vehicles, or both, crossing under a railroad, road, etc.

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underpass British  

/ ˈʌndəˌpɑːs /

noun

1. a section of a road that passes under another road, railway line, etc

2. another word for subway

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Etymology

Origin of underpass

First recorded in 1900–05; under- + pass

Example Sentences

Videos circulating on social media showed police vans escorting a bar association vehicle carrying Mazari to court before it was stopped at an underpass, where masked security officials prevented journalists from filming the arrest.

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

Two months later, signs appeared stating rowing through another nearby underpass prone to flooding was prohibited.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2025

A logo was also installed for the failed retailer Woolworths and another sign was put up suggesting the local council would provide snorkelling equipment to navigate a flooded underpass.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2025

We could walk a quarter mile and duck under the low PCH underpass, then spend long hours body surfing and doing absolutely nothing.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 12, 2025

And he pointed and said, “Through the underpass and up the stairs. You’ll see the signs.”

From "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon

Related Words

• bridge
• crossroad
• intersection
• junction
• overpass
• passage