below

American  

[bih-loh] / bɪˈloʊ /

adverb

1. in or toward a lower place.

   Look out below!

2. on, in, or toward a lower level, as a lower deck of a ship.

   The captain of the ship went below.

3. beneath the surface of the water.

   Divers were sent below to view the wreck.

4. on earth.

   the fate of creatures here below.

5. in hell or the infernal regions.

6. at a later point on a page or in a text.

   See the illustration below.

7. in a lower rank or grade.

   He was demoted to the class below.

8. under zero on the temperature scale.

   The temperature in Buffalo was ten below this morning.

9. Theater. downstage.

10. Zoology. on the lower or ventral side.

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preposition

1. lower down than.

   below the knee.

2. lower in rank, degree, amount, rate, etc., than.

   below cost;

   below freezing.

3. too low or undignified to be worthy of; beneath.

   He considered such an action below his notice.

4. Theater. downstage of.

   There are two chairs below the table.

below British  

/ bɪˈləʊ /

preposition

1. at or to a position lower than; under

2. less than in quantity or degree

3. south of

4. downstream of

5. unworthy of; beneath

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adverb

1. at or to a lower position or place

2. at a later place (in something written)

   see below

3. archaic beneath heaven; on earth or in hell

Related Words

Below, under, beneath indicate position in some way lower than something else. Below implies being in a lower plane: below the horizon, the water line. Under implies being lower in a perpendicular line: The book is under the chair. Beneath may have a meaning similar to below, but more usually denotes being under so as to be covered, overhung, or overtopped: the pool beneath the falls.

Etymology

Origin of below

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English bilooghe; equivalent to be- + low ¹

Example Sentences

The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index, at 52.9, was a touch below expectations of 53.4, but Wall Street was still in a jolly mood following yesterday’s cooler-than-expected consumer price index.

From Barron's

The S&P 500 ended Friday 1% below its record close on Dec. 11, and up 16.2% so far this year, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

From MarketWatch

The S&P 500 ended Friday 1% below its record close on Dec. 11, and up 16.2% so far this year, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

From MarketWatch

As companies hire seasonal workers at wages below the national average, that can bring the pace of wage growth down, says Mike Reid, senior U.S. economist for the Royal Bank of Canada.

From Barron's

Today, the 50 month moving average sits roughly 1,700 points below current levels.

From Barron's

Related Words

• down