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

---

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

"We saw walls collapsing, the floors opening up. And then water and mud began spurting up from underneath the flooring."

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

And he dies suddenly, tragically, and ... all of a sudden the rug is really just emotionally and psychologically pulled out from underneath them.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

Instead of a "heat dome" - where an area of high pressure gets "stuck", trapping warm air underneath - areas of low pressure will be steered across the UK by a stronger jet stream.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

This is the policy logic underneath the AI Overwatch Act, a legislation that Mr. Chilson dismisses.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

The ice buckled underneath the snowmobile, and Owen and George froze as a thin layer of water pooled at their feet.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz