beneathbe‧neath /bɪˈniːθ/ ●●● W2 adverb, preposition formal 
The dolphins disappeared beneath the waves. Jo enjoyed feeling the warm sand beneath her feet. He was standing on the bridge looking at the river beneath. Some roofs collapsed beneath the weight of (=unable to support the weight of) so much snow.► see thesaurus at underRegisterIn everyday English, people usually use underneath (as an adverb or preposition) or under (as a preposition) when talking about position:· They hid under the table.· a picture with a caption underneath2covered by something: Shiona shivered beneath the bedclothes.3used to say that someone’s real character or feelings are not shown because their appearance or behaviour is different SYN underneath: Dave sensed that something more sinister lay beneath the woman’s cheerful exterior. Beneath the surface she was angry.4not good enough or suitable for someone: She acts as if even speaking to us is beneath her. He felt it would be beneath his dignity to comment. His mother felt he was marrying beneath him (=marrying someone who was not good enough). I consider such behaviour to be beneath contempt (=so bad that you have no respect for the person involved).5in a lower, less important rank or job than someone else SYN below
WORD ORIGINbeneath
Origin:
Old English beneothan, from neothan ‘below’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He stood on the bridge, looking at the river beneath.
- The whales are black or gray on top, with white beneath.
THESAURUS
something that is under something else has that thing directly above it or covering it: · The pen was under the desk.· She had a T-shirt on under her sweater.
in a lower position than something else, though not always directly under it: · From the cliffs we could barely see the people on the beach below us.· His apartment is below ours on the left.
under – used especially to emphasize that something covers, touches, or hides something: · The girls wear shorts underneath their cheerleading skirts.· I found the book underneath the sofa.
formal under or at a lower level: · They strolled hand in hand beneath the summer moon.· The water lies just beneath the surface of the earth.
Longman Language Activatorto think you are better than other people if you look down on other people, you think you are better or more important then them: · He looks down on anyone who hasn't had a college education.
if it is beneath you to do something or to talk to someone, you think you are much too important to do it: · Do you think you could make the tea for once -- or is that beneath you!be beneath to do something: · She was surprised to learn that he didn't think it was beneath him to help around the house.
if you say that someone thinks they are too good for a particular kind of work or for a particular person, you mean they are too proud to do that kind of work or to spend time with that person: · I suppose you think you're too good for us now you've inherited a fortune.· So you think you're too good for training college?
under something such as clothes, skin, or paint · I was wearing a thick sweater under my coat, but I was still cold.· Scabies is a disease caused by a tiny insect that lays its eggs just underneath the skin.
under a layer of something - used in formal writing or in literature: · The boy lay trembling beneath the bedclothes.· The inscription was hidden beneath a layer of dirt and grime.
in a lower position or at a lower level than something at a lower level: · John lives on the top floor and Julie lives on the floor below.· They looked down from the mountain to the valley far below.· The dog's leg was broken just below the hip.· Her hair hangs down below her shoulders.· Our pilot spotted two MiG29s flying below us.
at a lower level than something and often a little in front or to one side of it - used especially in formal writing or in literature: · Beneath the east window of the church stands the great altar.· The army was encamped beneath the castle walls.· They stood on the cliff and gazed down at the raging sea beneath.
under something that is directly above something that is under something else has that thing directly above it: · The pen fell under the desk.· If there's no one at home, just shove the letter under the door.· A small dog scampered into the room and dived under the table.· We stood close together under his umbrella, trying to keep dry.
directly under another object and close to it: · We found your keys in the sofa underneath a cushion.· The cats like to sleep underneath the wood stove when it's cold.· Sheets of newspaper had been laid underneath the carpet.· A pipe was leaking, so we put a bucket underneath to catch the drips.
directly under something - used especially in formal writing or in literature: · The ship passed beneath the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay.· As he walked across the hall, the boards creaked beneath his feet.
under the ground or under water · It is one of the largest mountain ranges under the Pacific Ocean.· Several of the stolen items were found buried under Mackie's house.· When the project is finished, most of Boston's major roads will run under the city.
under - used in formal writing or in literature: · Far beneath the waters of the North Atlantic lies the wreck of the great liner, the Titanic.· Petroleum occurs in natural deposits beneath the surface of the earth.
under the ground: · The men work underground for 12 hours a day.· The explosives will be stored below ground in concrete bunkers.10 metres underground/two miles underground etc: · The nuclear waste is buried a half-mile underground.
below the ground: · A subterranean stream is believed to flow underneath the town.· a subterranean explosion· Electronic sensors have located a huge subterranean cavern in the Sierre Madre mountain range.
under the water: · I don't like opening my eyes underwater.· a camera specially designed for use under water· On land the seal is a clumsy creature, but underwater it moves with grace and agility.
just under the surface of the water: · The boat hit a submerged rock.· Sometimes at low tide you can just see the submerged wreck of a large ship.partially/partly submerged: · The flight recorder was found smashed and partially submerged in a creek nearby.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Some roofs collapsed beneath the weight of (=unable to support the weight of) so much snow. Beneath the surface she was angry. He felt it would be beneath his dignity to comment. His mother felt he was marrying beneath him (=marrying someone who was not good enough). I consider such behaviour to be beneath contempt (=so bad that you have no respect for the person involved).COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Arguing was beneath her dignity (=was something she thought she was too important to do). Sophia had, in a sense, married beneath her (=married someone of a lower social class than her).
1in or to a lower position than something, or directly under something SYN underneath: Some roofs collapsed beneath the weight of (=unable to support the weight of) so much snow. Beneath the surface she was angry. He felt it would be beneath his dignity to comment. His mother felt he was marrying beneath him (=marrying someone who was not good enough). I consider such behaviour to be beneath contempt (=so bad that you have no respect for the person involved). Arguing was beneath her dignity (=was something she thought she was too important to do). Sophia had, in a sense, married beneath her (=married someone of a lower social class than her).· The ship sank beneath the waves.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB· Water, not solid ground, lay beneath.· The desert lies beneath and soars beyond any possible human qualification.· Peeling this back from one corner, he was astonished at what lay beneath.· Likewise we recognize that pre-feminist homemakers were encouraged to stand by, and lie beneath, their men.· A wooden box lay beneath and tiny black things fled across its surface from the exposing light.· The thin gown of emerald green silk was quite inadequate to the task of concealing what lay beneath.
The dolphins disappeared beneath the waves. Jo enjoyed feeling the warm sand beneath her feet. He was standing on the bridge looking at the river beneath. Some roofs collapsed beneath the weight of (=unable to support the weight of) so much snow.► see thesaurus at underRegisterIn everyday English, people usually use underneath (as an adverb or preposition) or under (as a preposition) when talking about position:· They hid under the table.· a picture with a caption underneath2covered by something: Shiona shivered beneath the bedclothes.3used to say that someone’s real character or feelings are not shown because their appearance or behaviour is different SYN underneath: Dave sensed that something more sinister lay beneath the woman’s cheerful exterior. Beneath the surface she was angry.4not good enough or suitable for someone: She acts as if even speaking to us is beneath her. He felt it would be beneath his dignity to comment. His mother felt he was marrying beneath him (=marrying someone who was not good enough). I consider such behaviour to be beneath contempt (=so bad that you have no respect for the person involved).5in a lower, less important rank or job than someone else SYN below