under
- 01 A1 Beginner
prep.below or beneath something else.
prep.positioned directly below or beneath another object, often being covered or hidden by it.
Simple“The cat is sleeping under the kitchen table.”
In context“The researchers discovered a network of ancient tunnels hidden deep under the city's foundations.”
Synonyms - 02 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.
Simple“Children under five years old can enter the museum for free.”
In context“The project was completed in under three months, significantly ahead of the original schedule.”
- 03 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.
Simple“The country flourished under the new leadership.”
In context“Under the current regulations, all staff members must complete safety training before using the heavy machinery.”
Synonymssubject togoverned by - 04 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.
Simple“The famous author wrote several detective novels under a different name.”
In context“The document was filed under a pseudonym to protect the identity of the whistleblower.”
- 05 A2 Elementary
adv.to a position below something else.
adv.moving or being in a position beneath or lower than something else.
Simple“The boat hit a rock and quickly went under.”
In context“The swimmer took a deep breath and went under, disappearing beneath the surface of the lake for nearly a minute.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 06 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The patient was already under when the surgeon entered the room.”
In context“It took several minutes for the anesthesia to take full effect and put the patient under for the procedure.”
Synonyms - 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.lower in position or rank.
adj.situated in a lower position or belonging to a lower rank or class.
Simple“He wore an under layer of clothing to stay warm in the snow.”
In context“The under secretary handled the administrative details while the minister focused on policy negotiations.”
- 08 C2 Proficiency
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.
Simple“I decided to bet on the under because both teams have very strong defenses.”
In context“Professional gamblers often analyze defensive efficiency ratings before deciding whether to take the under on a high-profile matchup.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'the over/under'.
Antonyms
From Middle English under, from Old English under, from Proto-West Germanic undar, from Proto-Germanic under, from a merger of Proto-Indo-European (H)n̥dʰér (“under”) and h₁entér (“inside”). Akin to German unter, Dutch onder, Danish and Norwegian under; also Old High German untar (“under”), Sanskrit अन्तर् (antar, “within”), Latin infrā (“below, beneath”) and inter (“between, among”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.