Word
undertow
Phoneticsun·der·tow
US/ˈəndɝˌtoʊ/
UK/ˌʌndətˈəʊ/
Definition
n. a strong current of water that pulls away from the shore, moving underneath the surface waves. It can also mean a hidden feeling or mood that is different from what people show on the outside.
n. a subsurface current that flows in a different direction from the surface water, particularly one moving seaward after a wave breaks on a beach. In a figurative sense, it refers to an underlying feeling or tendency that runs counter to the apparent atmosphere.
Examples
“The strong undertow makes swimming dangerous today.”
“Swimmers were warned to stay close to the shore because the powerful undertow could pull them into deeper water.”
“Despite the celebratory nature of the event, a dark undertow of resentment was palpable among the staff who had been passed over for promotions.”
Examples
simple
“The strong undertow makes swimming dangerous today.”
contextual
“Swimmers were warned to stay close to the shore because the powerful undertow could pull them into deeper water.”
complex
“Despite the celebratory nature of the event, a dark undertow of resentment was palpable among the staff who had been passed over for promotions.”
Usage
Often used with the definite article 'the' when referring to the physical current.
Real-World Examples
“Undertow is a natural and universal feature for almost any large body of water; it is a return flow compensating for the onshore-directed average transport of water by the waves in the zone above the wave troughs.” “One man entered the water and swam. He was carried along by the undertow across the beach but managed to fight his way back.” “People standing on a beach often feel the water tugging the sand away from under their feet. This is the undertow, the current that pulls water back into the ocean after a wave breaks on the beach.” “Waders feel like they are being sucked under the water when the wave breaks over their head—this is undertow in public parlance.” Etymology
From under- + tow.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/undertow