underwater

American  

[uhn-der-waw-ter, -wot-er] / ˈʌn dərˈwɔ tər, -ˈwɒt ər /

adjective

1. existing or occurring under water.

2. designed to be used under water.

3. located below a ship's waterline.

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adverb

1. beneath the water.

   to travel underwater.

noun

1. the water beneath the surface.

   cold currents in the underwater.

2. underwaters, the depths, as of a sea, lake, etc.

underwater British  

/ ˈʌndəˈwɔːtə /

adjective

1. being, occurring, or going under the surface of the water, esp the sea

   underwater exploration

2. nautical below the water line of a vessel

3. (of a stock option or other asset) having a market value below its purchase value

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adverb

1. beneath the surface of the water

Etymology

Origin of underwater

First recorded in 1620–30; under- + water

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

underwater

Steve Irwin died on 4 September 2006, aged 44, after a stingray fatally pierced his chest while he was underwater filming a documentary at the Great Barrier Reef.

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

Search and rescue operations continued on Thursday, involving 18 vessels, five helicopters, two drones and an aircraft, as well as a navy vessel conducting underwater searches.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

Long rates have risen, so the bonds are underwater too.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026

On “American Dream,” Mr. Cockrell’s instrument has a slapback effect, as if he’s playing underwater, echoing the lyric’s description of feeling overwhelmed and weighted down by the state of the world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

Led by Bass and staffed by scientists, researchers, engineers, and people from many other disciplines, the INA has been a leading force in underwater archaeology.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

Related Words

• submerged
• undersea