underneath

[ uhn-der-neeth, -neeth ]

/ ˌʌn dərˈniθ, -ˈnið /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR underneath ON THESAURUS.COM

preposition

below the surface or level of; directly or vertically beneath; at or on the bottom of.

under the control of; in a lower position in a hierarchy of authority: Underneath the department heads are the junior executives.

hidden, disguised, or misrepresented, as by a false appearance or pretense: Underneath his bluster is a timid nature.

adverb

below; at a lower level or position; on the underside.

adjective

lower; situated below or under.

noun

the bottom; underside; lowest part.

Nearby words

undermentioned, undermine, undermining ulcer, undermodulate, undermost, underneath, undernourish, undernourished, undernourishment, undernutrition, underpaid

Origin of underneath

before 900; Middle English undernethe, Old English underneothan. See under, beneath

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for underneath

Underneath my chronic prickliness and assholishness I am always, always thankful.
From Socially Isolated Nerd to Jeopardy! Bad Boy: A Thank You Note|Arthur Chu|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And underneath my chronic prickliness and assholishness I am always, always thankful.
From Socially Isolated Nerd to Jeopardy! Bad Boy: A Thank You Note|Arthur Chu|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sweat poured from underneath his helmet and down the thin points of his sandy blond hair.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Underneath, a miniature version of the bug-crazy man is revealed, himself thwacking away in an alternate dimension.
‘Interstellar’ Is Wildly Ambitious, Very Flawed, and Absolutely Worth Seeing|Marlow Stern|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“That said, underneath the surface differences in threat perception and how to deal with Russia persist,” he says.
Shocked by Ukraine Violence, NATO Prepares to Face Down Putin|Leo Cendrowicz|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like violets were her heavy eyelids, and underneath her sleeping eyes a violet shadow lay.
A Book of Myths|Jean Lang
The serpent fixed itself in a tree by the water-side; and underneath the same tree the young crocodile watched for prey.
The World of Waters|Mrs. David Osborne
She was angered quickly, but she forgave just as readily, and underneath her pride there was the meekness of a child.
Return of the Native|Thomas Hardy
He leaned back and watched his vis-à-vis narrowly from underneath drooping lashes.
The Last Stroke|Lawrence L. Lynch
But underneath all her apparent pleasure Jane was sorrowing.
Meg of Mystery Mountain|Grace May North

British Dictionary definitions for underneath

underneath

/ (ˌʌndəˈniːθ) /

preposition, adverb

under; beneath

adjective

lower

noun

a lower part, surface, etc

Word Origin for underneath

Old English underneothan, from under + neothan below; related to Old Danish underneden; see beneath

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

Word Origin and History for underneath

underneath

adv.

Old English underneoðan, from under + neoðan "below" (see beneath).

underneath

preposition

adverb

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of underneath

Examples from the Web for underneath

British Dictionary definitions for underneath

underneath

preposition, adverb

adjective

noun

Word Origin for underneath

Word Origin and History for underneath

underneath