Word
underneath
Phoneticsun·der·neath, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌəndɝˈniθ/
UK/ˌʌndənˈiːθ/
Adverb of place
Definitions
01directly below
B1 · Intermediate
prep. directly below something or covered by it.
prep. positioned directly below or beneath another object, often implying being covered or hidden by it.
“I found my lost earring underneath the sofa while I was cleaning.”
“The researchers discovered a network of ancient tunnels running directly underneath the city's main square, hidden for centuries by modern pavement.”
02on the lower side
B1 · Intermediate
adv. in a lower place or on the bottom side of something.
adv. at or to a lower place or the underside of an object.
“The cake looked perfect on top, but it was still a bit raw underneath.”
“The bridge appeared sturdy from a distance, but a closer inspection revealed significant rust on the iron supports underneath.”
Antonyms
03the bottom part
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the bottom part or the underside of something.
n. the lower part or bottom surface of an object.
“The underneath of the car was covered in mud after the long drive.”
“To prevent further damage, the mechanic applied a protective coating to the underneath of the vehicle before the winter season began.”
04lower layer
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describing a layer that is below another one.
adj. situated lower down or on the bottom; often used to describe layers of clothing or material.
“She wore an underneath layer of thermal clothing to stay warm in the snow.”
“The artist applied a bright red underneath layer to the canvas, which added a subtle warmth to the final landscape painting.”
Etymology
From Middle English undernethe, undernethen, from Old English underneoþan (“underneath”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *underniþer. Equivalent to under- + neath.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/underneath