underneath

American  

[uhn-der-neeth, -neeth] / ˌʌn dərˈniθ, -ˈnið /

preposition

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

2. under the control of; in a lower position in a hierarchy of authority.

   Underneath the department heads are the junior executives.

3. hidden, disguised, or misrepresented, as by a false appearance or pretense.

   Underneath his bluster is a timid nature.

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adverb

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

adjective

1. lower; situated below or under.

noun

1. the bottom; underside; lowest part.

underneath British  

/ ˌʌndəˈniːθ /

preposition

1. under; beneath

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adjective

1. lower

noun

1. a lower part, surface, etc

Etymology

Origin of underneath

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

Example Sentences

On those sheets, striped with a repeating pattern of Miss Piggy striking different poses underneath a parasol, Miss Piggy models confidence.

From Salon

Aviation security specialists warn that many blow up or fail en route to their targets, exposing aircraft underneath their trajectories to falling debris.

From The Wall Street Journal

Passengers described hearing a noise underneath the tram, after which it veered off, gathered speed and hit a building.

From BBC

Though they typically only operate in the Tahoe area, a few of their members went to Altadena to help a homeowner struggling to evict a 550-pound bear from underneath his home.

From Los Angeles Times

Hart keeps up a steady stream of anecdotes and witty repartee, but increasingly the mask slips; underneath it all is the yawning realization that he is utterly alone.

From Barron's