preposition
under
UHN-duh
preposition
1
Below or beneath something, in position.
"The cat hid under the bed during the thunderstorm."
2
Less than a stated amount.
"Tickets are available for under twenty dollars."
3
Subject to, governed by, or in accordance with.
"The company operates under strict safety regulations."
adverb
1
Into an unconscious state, especially from anesthesia.
"The patient was put under before surgery began."
adjective
1
Lower in position, rank, or amount.
"The under-16s team trains on Saturdays."
How to Use Under
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA basic word for beneath, less than, or subject to — used constantly across everyday and formal English.
Common pairings
under control
under pressure
under construction
Word Forms
more under comparative, unders plural, most under superlative
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Etymology
From Old English under, from Proto-Germanic *under, related to German unter and Latin infra ("below") — an ancient word for "beneath" going back to Proto-Indo-European.