undercurrent

American  

[uhn-der-kur-uhnt, -kuhr-] / ˈʌn dərˌkɜr ənt, -ˌkʌr- /

noun

undercurrents plural

1. a tendency underlying or at variance with the obvious or superficial significance of words, actions, etc..

   Even in his friendliest remarks, one could sense an undercurrent of hostility.

2. a current, as of air or water, that flows below the upper currents or surface.

---

undercurrent British  

/ ˈʌndəˌkʌrənt /

noun

1. a current that is not apparent at the surface or lies beneath another current

2. an opinion, emotion, etc, lying beneath apparent feeling or meaning

---

Usage

What is an undercurrent? An undercurrent is a flow of water or air that moves below the highest current or the surface. Undercurrent is more often used figuratively to mean a tendency underlying or at odds with what’s on the surface, as in While the two candidates smiled and shook hands, everyone in the room could feel the undercurrent of aggression between them. Example: The undercurrent at the beach today was so strong, I worried it was going to carry me out to sea!

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• undercurrents
  plural

Etymology

Origin of undercurrent

First recorded in 1675–85; under- + current

Explanation

An undercurrent is a mood or atmosphere just below the surface, like the undercurrent of anxiety in your school during final exams. The figurative meaning of undercurrent is more common than its literal definition, "an ocean current that runs beneath the surface of the water." Another word for this kind of undercurrent is a "subsurface current." When most of us use the word undercurrent, however, we're talking about a general state of mind, something that subtly influences the way people feel, like the undercurrent of suspense running through a good horror movie.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

undercurrent undercurrents

This is the drink I want after a long afternoon spent outside: effervescent and bright, but with an undercurrent of smoke and brine.

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026

But Yoon also tapped into pre-existing anxieties and grievances, especially among young men, activating a latent undercurrent of discontent and driving it to the surface.

From BBC ● Feb. 22, 2026

Yet an undercurrent of resentment flows through “Remember the Times” — a sense that Riley feels his legacy isn’t as secure as those of Jam and Lewis or Babyface and L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2026

Even the most upbeat tracks are streaked with darkness, and there’s often an undercurrent of danger.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026

Talking was forbidden in chapel, but he could sense the undercurrent.

From "The Dead and the Gone" by Susan Beth Pfeffer

With 24 main characters interwoven around the town of Nashville, home of country music and intersecting political undercurrents, the film tries to make sense of the chaos.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

“In an eventual post-crisis world, a multi- polar environment lends itself to a much more gold-positive one. Additionally, many of the undercurrents that drove gold prices higher remain intact, albeit on pause,” he added.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

Predictably, the novel’s twin undercurrents of pride and corruption surface with fatal consequences, and the lively narrative ends as fate demands that it must.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026

It’s possible to miss some of the dramatic undercurrents gripping the stock market right now by looking only at the surface.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 15, 2025

Somehow during their aimless but oh-so-significant conversation with its delicious pauses and thrilling undercurrents of emotion, they came to know that they loved each other passionately.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

Related Words

• atmosphere
• aura
• crosscurrent
• feeling
• hint
• inclination
• indication
• intimation
• murmur
• overtone
• sense
• tinge
• undertone
• undertow