underpass

American  

[uhn-der-pas, -pahs] / ˈʌn dərˌpæs, -ˌpɑs /

noun

1. a passage running underneath, especially a passage for pedestrians or vehicles, or both, crossing under a railroad, road, etc.

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underpass British  

/ ˈʌndəˌpɑːs /

noun

1. a section of a road that passes under another road, railway line, etc

2. another word for subway

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Etymology

Origin of underpass

First recorded in 1900–05; under- + pass

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

underpass

Videos shared on social media showed partially submerged cars and rescue workers attempting to reach a vehicle trapped in a heavily flooded underpass.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

During the previous attack, they had left home too late, found the station already overflowing, and had to use an underpass for shelter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

Videos circulating on social media showed police vans escorting a bar association vehicle carrying Mazari to court before it was stopped at an underpass, where masked security officials prevented journalists from filming the arrest.

From Barron's ● Jan. 24, 2026

Mud and debris fell onto West Mountain Drive and Cliff Drive at La Marina, and flooding forced the closure of the Mission Street underpass and the 101 freeway off-ramps, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 17, 2025

She stepped down and walked toward the underpass that cut across Darling Street.

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison

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Related Words

• bridge
• crossroad
• intersection
• junction
• overpass
• passage

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