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Underneath: meaning, definitions and examples

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underneath

 

[ ˌʌndərˈniːθ ]

Adverb / Preposition
Context #1 | Adverb

location

In or to a place below or lower than something else.

Synonyms

below, beneath, under

Examples of usage

  • The cat hid underneath the bed.
  • She found her keys underneath a pile of papers.
Context #2 | Preposition

position

Directly below or in a lower position than something else.

Synonyms

below, beneath, under

Examples of usage

  • The treasure was buried underneath the old oak tree.
  • The river flows underneath the bridge.

Translations

Translations of the word "underneath" in other languages:

🇵🇹 por baixo

🇮🇳 नीचे

🇩🇪 unter

🇮🇩 di bawah

🇺🇦 під

🇵🇱 pod

🇯🇵 下に

🇫🇷 en dessous

🇪🇸 debajo

🇹🇷 altında

🇰🇷 아래에

🇸🇦 تحت

🇨🇿 pod

🇸🇰 pod

🇨🇳 在...下面

🇸🇮 pod

🇮🇸 undir

🇰🇿 астында

🇬🇪 ქვეშ

🇦🇿 altında

🇲🇽 debajo

Etymology

The word 'underneath' originated from Middle English 'undernethe', which is a combination of 'under' and 'neathe', meaning 'below'. The word has been used in English since the 13th century to describe a position lower than something else. Over time, it has evolved to be commonly used in both spoken and written English to indicate a location below or lower than another object.

See also: under, underage, underbelly, underbody, underfed, underhanded, underling, underpants, underside, understand, underwear.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,147 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.