Word
underwear
Phoneticsun·der·wear, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈəndɝˌwɛɹ/
UK/ˌʌndəwˈeə/
日本語下着※
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. clothes like underpants or bras that you wear under your main clothes.
n. garments worn next to the skin and beneath outer clothing for hygiene, comfort, or support. Uncountable in all standard contexts.
Examples
“I need to pack enough clean underwear for the trip.”
“The athlete chose moisture-wicking underwear to stay comfortable during the long marathon.”
“While outer fashion trends change rapidly, the design of basic underwear remains focused primarily on utility, comfort, and the quality of the fabric against the skin.”
Examples
simple
“I need to pack enough clean underwear for the trip.”
contextual
“The athlete chose moisture-wicking underwear to stay comfortable during the long marathon.”
complex
“While outer fashion trends change rapidly, the design of basic underwear remains focused primarily on utility, comfort, and the quality of the fabric against the skin.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “underwear” in context.
Verb
01. change underwear
“It is important for hygiene to change underwear every single day.”
verb + noun
02. underwear shows
“The fabric of the dress is so thin that her underwear shows through.”
noun + verb
03. wash underwear
“Delicate items like lace underwear should be washed by hand.”
verb + noun
04. wear underwear
“The athlete prefers to wear seamless underwear during long races.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. clean underwear
“Make sure you pack enough clean underwear for the entire trip.”
adj + noun
06. cotton underwear
“Dermatologists often recommend wearing breathable cotton underwear.”
adj + noun
07. silk underwear
“She treated herself to some expensive silk underwear for her birthday.”
adj + noun
08. thermal underwear
“You should wear thermal underwear if you are going skiing in this weather.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. item of underwear
“Several items of underwear were left behind in the hotel room.”
noun + prep + noun
10. set of underwear
“He bought a matching set of underwear and a vest.”
noun + prep + noun
11. a change of underwear
“Don't forget to pack a spare change of underwear in your carry-on bag.”
12. be caught in one's underwear
“He was embarrassed to be caught in his underwear when the fire alarm went off.”
Usage
This is an uncountable noun; use 'some underwear' or 'a pair of underpants' instead of 'an underwear'.
Pitfall
I need to buy some new underwears.
I need to buy some new underwear.
Underwear is an uncountable noun and does not have a plural form with 's'.
Etymology
From under- + -wear. Compare Dutch ondergoed, German Unterwäsche, Swedish underkläder.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/underwear
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0