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

The car had flipped during the crash, leaving most of the vehicle upside down and underwater, according to a photo shared from the scene.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

Hilton’s favorability rating is underwater, with 39% of likely voters viewing him favorably and 50% unfavorably.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Its own poll found him dramatically underwater, 34% to 61%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli hailed the wreck as "one of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years".

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

“So stay underwater as much as you can, to be safe.”

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown

Related Words

• submerged
• undersea