underneath

The word “underneath” means below or beneath something, often in contact with it. In plain terms, directly below or on the bottom side of something.

“Underneath” is pronounced uhn-duh-NEETH (/ˌʌndɚˈniθ/ in IPA).

Here is “underneath” used in a sentence: “The cat was hiding underneath the sofa.”

Depending on how it is used, “underneath” can be a preposition, an adverb and a noun.

The word “underneath” comes from Old English. From Old English underneoðan, from under plus neoðan ("from below"); related to the word "beneath.".

“Underneath” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Underneath” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: below or beneath something, often in contact with it.

"Under" is the all-purpose word; "underneath" is more emphatic and often suggests something is covered, hidden, or in contact with what is above it, as in "the key was underneath the mat." Only "under" works with numbers and measures — "under 18", "under an hour" — where "underneath" is not used.

They overlap, but "beneath" is more formal or literary and also carries figurative senses such as "beneath contempt". "Underneath" is the more conversational choice and stresses physical position, especially being directly under or covered by something.

No — as a preposition, "underneath" takes its object directly: "underneath the table." Adding "of" is nonstandard; "of" only follows naturally after the noun use, as in "the underneath of the car", where "underneath" names the lower surface itself.

"Below" means at a lower level, with no suggestion of contact — "the valley below", "temperatures below zero". "Underneath" implies being directly under something and often touching or covered by it, so a note taped underneath a drawer sits against its lower side.