underground

[uhn-der-ground, uhn-der-ground]

adverb

1. beneath the surface of the ground: ground.

   traveling underground by subway.

2. in concealment or secrecy; not openly.

   subversion carried on underground.

adjective

1. existing, situated, operating, or taking place beneath the surface of the ground. ground.

2. used, or for use, underground.

3. hidden or secret; not open.

   underground political activities.

4. published or produced by political or social radicals or nonconformists.

   an underground newspaper.

5. avant-garde; experimental.

   an underground movie.

6. critical of or attacking the established society or system.

   underground opinion.

7. of or for nonconformists; unusual.

   an underground vegetarian restaurant.

noun

1. the place or region beneath the surface of the ground. ground.

2. an underground space or passage.

3. a secret organization fighting the established government or occupation forces.

   He fought in the French underground during the Nazi occupation of France.

4. (often initial capital letter),  a movement or group existing outside the establishment and usually reflecting unorthodox, avant-garde, or radical views.

5. Chiefly British.,  a subway system.

verb (used with object)

1. to place beneath the surface of the ground: ground.

   to underground utility lines.

underground

adjective

1. occurring, situated, or used below ground level

   an underground tunnel

   an underground explosion

2. secret; hidden

   underground activities

adverb

1. going below ground level

   the tunnel led underground

2. into hiding or secrecy

   the group was driven underground

noun

1. a space or region below ground level

2. 1. a movement dedicated to overthrowing a government or occupation forces, as in the European countries occupied by the German army in World War II

   2. ( as modifier )

      an underground group

3. US and Canadian equivalent: subway. an electric passenger railway operated in underground tunnels

4. (usually preceded by the)

   1. any avant-garde, experimental, or subversive movement in popular art, films, music, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      the underground press

      underground music

Word History and Origins

Origin of underground¹

First recorded in 1565–75; under- + ground ¹

Example Sentences

Ms Vilaplana's bank card details reviewed by the magistrate have since shown she drove out of the underground car park at 19:47.

Read more on BBC

This chemistry provides the energy that supports many forms of underground life.

Read more on Science Daily

Lawyers say few will qualify to stay, and many will go underground.

Read more on BBC

So energy companies over the years have stored huge volumes of gas underground, and that can provide methanol feedstock, according to Wilcox and Ruaro.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The OT’s Jewish victims, like their non-Jewish counterparts, were forced to work on everything from underground armaments factories to V-2 rockets and even a railroad above the Arctic Circle in Norway.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• clandestine 
• experimental 
• hidden 
• private