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• under
  under

  preposition

  beneath and covered by.
• under-
  under-

  a prefixal use of under, as to indicate place or situation below or beneath (underbrush; undertow ); lower in grade or dignity (undersheriff; understudy ); of lesser degree, extent, or amount (undersized ); or insufficiency (underfeed ).

under

¹ American  

[uhn-der] / ˈʌn dər /

preposition

1. beneath and covered by.

   under a table; under a tree.

2. below the surface of.

   under water; under the skin.

3. at a point or position lower or further down than.

   He was hit just under his eye.

4. in the position or state of bearing, supporting, sustaining, enduring, etc..

   to sink under a heavy load.

5. beneath the heading or within the category of.

   Classify the books under “Fiction” and “General.”

6. as designated, indicated, or represented by.

   to register under a new name.

7. below in degree, amount, etc.; less than.

   purchased under cost.

8. below in rank; of less dignity, importance, or the like.

   A corporal is under a sergeant.

9. subject to the authority, direction, or supervision of.

   a bureau functioning under the prime minister.

10. subject to the instruction or advice of.

    to study the violin under Heifetz.

11. subject to the influence, condition, force, etc., of.

    under these circumstances; born under the sign of Taurus.

12. protected, controlled, or watched by.

    under guard.

13. authorized, warranted, or attested by.

    under one's hand or seal.

14. in accordance with.

    under the provisions of the law.

15. during the rule, administration, or government of.

    new laws passed under President Reagan.

16. in the state or process of.

    under repair; a matter under consideration.

17. Nautical. powered by the means indicated.

    under sail; under steam.

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adverb

1. below or beneath something.

   Go over the fence, not under.

2. beneath the surface.

3. in a lower place.

4. in a lower degree, amount, etc..

   selling blouses for $25 and under.

5. in a subordinate position or condition.

6. in or into subjection or submission.

adjective

1. beneath or on the underside.

   the under threads of the embroidery.

2. lower in position.

3. lower in degree, amount, etc.

4. lower in rank or condition.

5. subject to the control, effect, etc., as of a person, drug, or force.

   The hypnotist had her subject under at once. The patient was under as soon as he breathed the anesthetic.

verb phrase

1. go under

   1. to give in; succumb; yield.

      She tried desperately to fight off her drowsiness, but felt herself going under.

   2. to fail in business.

      After 20 years on the same corner they finally went under.

idioms

1. under wraps. wrap.

under- ² American  

1. a prefixal use of under, as to indicate place or situation below or beneath (underbrush; undertow ); lower in grade or dignity (undersheriff; understudy ); of lesser degree, extent, or amount (undersized ); or insufficiency (underfeed ).

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under ¹ British  

/ ˈʌndə /

preposition

1. directly below; on, to, or beneath the underside or base of

   under one's feet

2. less than

   under forty years

3. lower in rank than

   under a corporal

4. subject to the supervision, jurisdiction, control, or influence of

5. subject to (conditions); in (certain circumstances)

6. within a classification of

   a book under theology

7. known by

   under an assumed name

8. planted with

   a field under corn

9. powered by

   under sail

10. astrology during the period that the sun is in (a sign of the zodiac)

    born under Aries

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adverb

1. below; to a position underneath something

under- ² British  

prefix

1. below or beneath

   underarm

   underground

2. of lesser importance or lower rank

   undersecretary

3. to a lesser degree than is proper; insufficient or insufficiently

   undercharge

   underemployed

4. indicating secrecy or deception

   underhand

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under More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing under

• below (under) par
• born under a lucky star
• buckle under
• come under
• cut the ground from under
• don't let the grass grow under one's feet
• everything but the kitchen sink (under the sun)
• fall under
• false colors, sail under
• get under someone's skin
• go under
• hide one's light under a bushel
• hot under the collar
• keep under one's hat
• knock the bottom out (props out from under)
• knuckle under
• light a fire under
• nothing new under the sun
• of (under) age
• out from under
• plow under
• pull the rug out from under
• put the skids under
• six feet under
• snow under
• sweep under the rug
• water over the dam (under the bridge)

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Usage

What does under- mean? Under- is a prefix meaning “under” and is used in a variety of senses, including "below or beneath," "inferior," or "lesser." It is often used in a variety of everyday terms. Under- ultimately comes from Old English under, of the same meaning. The Greek translation of under is hypó, the source of the prefix hypo-, and the Latin translation is sub, the source of the prefix sub-. These prefixes can be found in hypoallergenic, hypothermia, subterranean, and subway. To learn more, check out our entries for all four words.

Related Words

See below.

Etymology

Origin of under¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch onder, German unter, Old Norse undir; akin to Latin inferus “lower” ( cf. inferior ( def. ))

Origin of under-²

Middle English; Old English

Explanation

Anything that's under is beneath something else. Most of us wear socks under our shoes and stand under an umbrella in the pouring rain. If you're under water, you are below its surface, and if you're in the room directly under your brother's, you'll hear the rhythmic thudding of his stereo directly above your head. This adverb has a variety of meanings, including "lesser in rank," like a corporal who's under a general, and "controlled by," as when you fall under the spell of a magician. You can also be "under the weather," or sick.

Example Sentences

LHS 3844 b is a rocky world about 30% larger than Earth that circles a cool red dwarf star in just under 11 hours.

From Science Daily • May 5, 2026

Political scientist Dwaipayan Bhattacharyya once described Bengal under the Communists as a "party society", where the party became embedded in everyday rural life and livelihoods.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

Efforts are under way to trace people on that flight, which South African-based carrier Airlink said was carrying 82 passengers and six crew.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

Ticket prices: $5 per day/$17 multi-day pass; free admission for children 3 and under.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

“Your uncle led me here under false pretenses. Besides, the other line’s shorter. Meet me by where the band is going to play. Bring chairs.”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith