below
bih-LOH
Below (preposition) means At a lower position than; underneath. Example: “The cat was hiding below the kitchen table all morning.”
preposition
1
At a lower position than; underneath.
"The cat was hiding below the kitchen table all morning."
"A river runs below the bridge and into the sea."
"The valley lay below the mountain ridge."
2
Lower than in amount, rank, or level.
"Her exam mark was just below the pass level."
"Anyone below the rank of manager cannot sign these forms."
"Temperatures dropped below freezing overnight."
adverb
1
In or to a lower place, floor, or level.
"Someone was shouting from the floor below, so we went down."
"The captain called to the crew on the deck below."
"The engine room is below, past the stairs."
2
Further down in the same piece of writing.
"You can find the answers to these questions below."
"The author explains this idea in more detail below."
"See the table below for full details."
How to use below
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnderneath, or lower than something — in position, amount, or further down a page.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
below average
below zero
as shown below
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Etymology
From Middle English bilooghe, formed from "be-" plus "low."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for below
See all rhymes for below →Frequently asked questions
What does “below” mean?
The word “below” means at a lower position than; underneath. In plain terms, underneath, or lower than something — in position, amount, or further down a page.
How do you pronounce “below”?
“Below” is pronounced bih-LOH (/bɪˈloʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “below” in a sentence?
Here is “below” used in a sentence: “The valley lay below the mountain ridge.”
What is another word for “below”?
Words with a similar meaning to “below” include under, beneath and underneath.
What is the opposite of “below”?
The opposite of “below” — its antonyms — are above, over, upstream, aloft and overhead.
What part of speech is “below”?
Depending on how it is used, “below” can be a preposition and an adverb.
Where does the word “below” come from?
The word “below” comes from Middle English. From Middle English bilooghe, formed from "be-" plus "low.".
Is “below” a common word?
“Below” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between "below" and "beneath"?
Both mean at a lower position, and often either works. "Below" is the everyday choice for something lower on a scale or further down ("the temperature is below zero"). "Beneath" can feel slightly more formal or literary and often implies direct contact or being covered ("the letter lay beneath the books"). The overlap is large.
What is the difference between "below" and "under"?
"Under" usually means directly beneath, often in contact or covered ("under the bed," "under a blanket"). "Below" means simply at a lower level, not necessarily directly underneath ("the valley below," "below sea level"). You would write "ten degrees below zero," not "under zero." When position on a scale is meant, "below" is preferred.
What is the opposite of "below"?
The opposite of "below" is "above," meaning at a higher position. Related opposites include "over," "on top of," and "overhead." If something is below the line, its opposite is above the line; if a figure is below average, the opposite is above average. The pair "above and below" is very common.
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