under

A1 · Beginner

prep. lower than a specific number, age, or amount.

prep. indicating a quantity, age, or price that is lower than a specified limit.

“Children under five years old can enter the museum for free.”

“The project was completed in under three months, significantly ahead of the original schedule.”

B1 · Intermediate

prep. controlled or managed by a person, a rule, or a government.

prep. subject to the authority, control, or management of a specific entity or system.

“The country flourished under the new leadership.”

“Under the current regulations, all staff members must complete safety training before using the heavy machinery.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

prep. using a particular name or title that is not your real one.

prep. adopting or using a specific name, identity, or heading for a particular purpose.

“The famous author wrote several detective novels under a different name.”

“The document was filed under a pseudonym to protect the identity of the whistleblower.”

A2 · Elementary

adv. to a position below something else.

adv. moving or being in a position beneath or lower than something else.

“The boat hit a rock and quickly went under.”

“The swimmer took a deep breath and went under, disappearing beneath the surface of the lake for nearly a minute.”

C1 · Advanced Medicine Informal

adv. in a state of deep sleep or unconsciousness, usually because of medicine.

adv. in a state of unconsciousness, particularly when induced by general anesthesia.

“The patient was already under when the surgeon entered the room.”

“It took several minutes for the anesthesia to take full effect and put the patient under for the procedure.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. lower in position or rank.

adj. situated in a lower position or belonging to a lower rank or class.

“He wore an under layer of clothing to stay warm in the snow.”

“The under secretary handled the administrative details while the minister focused on policy negotiations.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Sports Informal · Technical

n. a bet that the total score in a game will be lower than a certain number.

n. a wager predicting that the combined score or a specific statistic will fall below a predetermined value.

“I decided to bet on the under because both teams have very strong defenses.”

“Professional gamblers often analyze defensive efficiency ratings before deciding whether to take the under on a high-profile matchup.”