under
UHN-duh
Under (preposition) means Below or beneath something, in position. Example: “The cat hid under the bed during the thunderstorm.”
preposition
1
Below or beneath something, in position.
"The cat hid under the bed during the thunderstorm."
"The keys were under a pile of old newspapers."
"We sheltered under a big tree until the rain stopped."
2
Less than a stated amount.
"Tickets are available for under twenty dollars."
"Children under five can travel on the bus for free."
"The whole journey took under an hour, which surprised us."
3
Subject to, governed by, or in accordance with.
"The company operates under strict safety regulations."
"Under the rules of the club, members must sign in guests."
"The project was completed under the guidance of an experienced teacher."
adverb
1
Into an unconscious state, especially from anesthesia.
"The patient was put under before surgery began."
"The dentist gave him gas, and he went under quickly."
"She was still under when her family arrived at the hospital."
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- unders
- Comparative
- more under
- Superlative
- most under
Fill the gap
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The cat hid _____ the bed during the thunderstorm.
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for under
See all rhymes for under →Frequently asked questions
What does “under” mean?
The word “under” means below or beneath something, in position. In plain terms, a basic word for beneath, less than, or subject to — used constantly across everyday and formal English.
How do you pronounce “under”?
“Under” is pronounced UHN-duh (/ˈʌndɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “under” in a sentence?
Here is “under” used in a sentence: “The cat hid under the bed during the thunderstorm.”
What is another word for “under”?
Words with a similar meaning to “under” include below, beneath and underneath.
What is the opposite of “under”?
The opposite of “under” — its antonyms — are above and over.
What part of speech is “under”?
Depending on how it is used, “under” can be a preposition, an adverb and an adjective.
Where does the word “under” come from?
The word “under” comes from Latin. 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.
Is “under” a common word?
“Under” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between "under" and "below"?
Both mean in a lower position, but "under" often suggests being directly beneath or covered by something ("under the table," "under a blanket"), while "below" simply means at a lower level, often with no contact ("below sea level"). In many sentences either word works.
What is the difference between "under" and "underneath"?
They are usually interchangeable for physical position, but "underneath" tends to emphasize being covered or hidden and sounds slightly more emphatic. Only "under" is used for amounts: "under £10," never "underneath £10."
Does "under" mean "less than" with numbers?
Yes. Before a quantity, "under" means less than the stated amount: "under 18" means younger than 18, and "under £50" means costing less than £50. In precise technical writing, "less than" or "fewer than" is sometimes preferred.
Is it "under construction" or "in construction"?
The standard phrase is "under construction." "Under" appears in many fixed expressions describing an ongoing state or process, such as "under review," "under pressure," and "under way."
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing under in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
Adams County firefighters discovered a body in a tunnel under Interstate 25 while responding to a fire on Saturday morning, according to the fire department.
From
The Denver Post · Jul 25, 2026
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