under

[ uhn-der ]

/ ˈʌn dər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR under ON THESAURUS.COM

preposition

beneath and covered by: under a table; under a tree.

below the surface of: under water; under the skin.

at a point or position lower or further down than: He was hit just under his eye.

in the position or state of bearing, supporting, sustaining, enduring, etc.: to sink under a heavy load.

beneath the heading or within the category of: Classify the books under “Fiction” and “General.”

as designated, indicated, or represented by: to register under a new name.

below in degree, amount, etc.; less than: purchased under cost.

below in rank; of less dignity, importance, or the like: A corporal is under a sergeant.

subject to the authority, direction, or supervision of: a bureau functioning under the prime minister.

subject to the instruction or advice of: to study the violin under Heifetz.

subject to the influence, condition, force, etc., of: under these circumstances; born under the sign of Taurus.

protected, controlled, or watched by: under guard.

authorized, warranted, or attested by: under one's hand or seal.

in accordance with: under the provisions of the law.

during the rule, administration, or government of: new laws passed under President Reagan.

in the state or process of: under repair; a matter under consideration.

Nautical. powered by the means indicated: under sail; under steam.

adverb

below or beneath something: Go over the fence, not under.

beneath the surface.

in a lower place.

in a lower degree, amount, etc.: selling blouses for $25 and under.

in a subordinate position or condition.

in or into subjection or submission.

adjective

beneath or on the underside: the under threads of the embroidery.

lower in position.

lower in degree, amount, etc.

lower in rank or condition.

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 Phrases

go under,

to give in; succumb; yield: She tried desperately to fight off her drowsiness, but felt herself going under.
to fail in business: After 20 years on the same corner they finally went under.

QUIZZES

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Question 1 of 7

What does “vacillate” mean?

to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

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Idioms for under

under wraps. wrap (def. 14).

Origin of under

before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch onder,German unter,Old Norse undir,Latin inferus located below

synonym study for under

2. See below.

Definition for under (2 of 2)

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).

Origin of under-

Middle English; Old English

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for under (1 of 2)

under

/ (ˈʌndə) /

preposition

directly below; on, to, or beneath the underside or base ofunder one's feet

less thanunder forty years

lower in rank thanunder a corporal

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

subject to (conditions); in (certain circumstances)

within a classification ofa book under theology

known byunder an assumed name

planted witha field under corn

powered byunder sail

astrology during the period that the sun is in (a sign of the zodiac)born under Aries

adverb

below; to a position underneath something

Word Origin for under

Old English; related to Old Saxon, Gothic undar, Old High German untar, Old Norse undir, Latin infra

British Dictionary definitions for under (2 of 2)

under-

prefix

below or beneathunderarm; underground

of lesser importance or lower rankundersecretary

to a lesser degree than is proper; insufficient or insufficientlyundercharge; underemployed

indicating secrecy or deceptionunderhand

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with under

under

In addition to the idioms beginning with under

under a cloud
under age
under any circumstances
under arrest
under consideration
under cover
under false colors
under fire
under lock and key
under one's belt
under one's breath
under one's feet
under one's hat
under one's nose
under one's own steam
under one's skin
under pain of
under par
under someone's spell
under someone's thumb
under someone's wing
under the aegis of
under the circumstances
under the counter
under the gun
under the hammer
under the impression
under the influence
under the knife
under the sun
under the table
under the weather
under the wire
under way
under wraps

also see:

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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under

preposition

adverb

adjective

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Idioms for under

Origin of under

synonym study for under

Definition for under (2 of 2)

Origin of under-

British Dictionary definitions for under (1 of 2)

preposition

adverb

Word Origin for under

British Dictionary definitions for under (2 of 2)

prefix

Idioms and Phrases with under

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

under

preposition

adverb

adjective

Verb Phrases

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Idioms for under

Origin of under

synonym study for under

Definition for under (2 of 2)

Origin of under-

Words related to under

British Dictionary definitions for under (1 of 2)

preposition

adverb

Word Origin for under

British Dictionary definitions for under (2 of 2)

prefix

Idioms and Phrases with under