adjective
Uncommon
subterranean
suhb-tuh-RAY-nee-uhn
Subterranean (adjective) means Located below the ground. Example: “Tourists explored a network of subterranean tunnels beneath the old city.”
adjective
1
Located below the ground.
"Tourists explored a network of subterranean tunnels beneath the old city."
"Today is that most sacred of American holidays. A day when people from all walks of life set aside their differences and focus their undivided attention on the prognostication abilities of a subterranean rodent."
— Andrew Torgan and Kimberly Richardson, Start your week smart: Trump tariffs, DC air collision, hostages released, medevac jet crash, FAA system outage (2025)
2
Hidden or operating in secret.
"The subterranean tool of buying rigged opinion polling and media coverage is outlined in remarkable detail in chat exchanges recovered from the cellphone of one of Mr. Kurz’s closest allies and friends, Thomas Schmid."
— Katrin Bennhold, Fake Polls and Tabloid Coverage on Demand: The Dark Side of Sebastian Kurz (2021)
"A subterranean resistance movement had been organizing for months."
How to use subterranean
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnderground, either literally (below the earth) or figuratively (hidden from view).
Common pairings
subterranean tunnel
subterranean river
subterranean world
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Word forms
- Plural
- subterraneans
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Tourists explored a network of _____ tunnels beneath the old city.
Etymology
From Latin subterraneus, from sub- ("under") plus terra ("earth").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
aboveground
superterranean
Related words
Rhymes for subterranean
See all rhymes for subterranean →Frequently asked questions
What does “subterranean” mean?
The word “subterranean” means located below the ground. In plain terms, underground, either literally (below the earth) or figuratively (hidden from view).
How do you pronounce “subterranean”?
“Subterranean” is pronounced suhb-tuh-RAY-nee-uhn (/ˌsʌbtəˈɹeɪniən/ in IPA).
How do you use “subterranean” in a sentence?
Here is “subterranean” used in a sentence: “Tourists explored a network of subterranean tunnels beneath the old city.”
What is another word for “subterranean”?
Words with a similar meaning to “subterranean” include belowground, chthonian, chthonic and cuniculate.
What is the opposite of “subterranean”?
The opposite of “subterranean” — its antonyms — are aboveground and superterranean.
What part of speech is “subterranean”?
“Subterranean” is an adjective.
Where does the word “subterranean” come from?
The word “subterranean” comes from Latin. From Latin subterraneus, from sub- ("under") plus terra ("earth").
Is “subterranean” a common word?
“Subterranean” is an uncommon word in modern English.
