underneath

[uhn-der-neeth, -neeth ]

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.

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

Related Words for underneath

beneath, bottom, lower, nether, under, neath

Examples from the Web for underneath

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
“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

Historical Examples of underneath

Wiglaf stabs the dragon from underneath, and Bewulf cuts it in two with his dagger.
Beowulf
Unknown
The men were working at the breast of it, some underneath, some on top.
The Forest
Stewart Edward White
Once, he roused with a start and hastily got the axe out from underneath the lashings.
White Fang
Jack London
Underneath was printed "May be consulted gratis from ten to four."
The Stark Munro Letters
J. Stark Munro
Underneath is a stone platform, and on it the hideous elephant-god.
Things as They Are
Amy Wilson-Carmichael

British Dictionary definitions for underneath

underneath

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

adv.

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