If one thing is underneath another, it is directly under it, and may be covered or hidden by it.
The device exploded underneath a van.
...using dogs to locate people trapped underneath collapsed buildings.
...a table for two underneath the olive trees.
Her apartment was underneath a bar, called 'The Lift'.
Synonyms: beneath, below, at the bottom of More Synonyms of underneath
Underneath is also an adverb.
He has on a denim shirt with a T-shirt underneath.
...if we could maybe pull back a bit of this carpet to see what's underneath.
The shooting-range is lit from underneath by rows of ruby-red light fittings.
2. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
The part of something which is underneath is the part which normally touches the ground or faces towards the ground.
Check the actual construction of the chair by looking underneath.
The sand martin is a brown bird with white underneath.
His bare feet were smooth on top and rough-skinned underneath.
Underneath is also an adjective.
Some objects had got entangled with the underneath mechanism of the engine.
Underneath is also a noun.
Now I know what the underneath of a car looks like. [+ of]
Synonyms: bottom, base, underside More Synonyms of underneath
3. adverb
You use underneath when talking about feelings and emotions that people do not show in their behaviour.
He was as violent as Nick underneath.
Underneath, Sofia was deeply committed to her partner.
Synonyms: inside, secretly, in your heart, in your heart of hearts More Synonyms of underneath
Underneath is also a preposition.
Underneath his outgoing behaviour Luke was shy.
More Synonyms of underneath
English Easy Learning GrammarPrepositionsA preposition is one of a small but very common group of words that relate differentitems to each other. Most English prepositions have a number of meanings ... Read more
underneath in British English
(ˌʌndəˈniːθ)
preposition, adverb
1.
under; beneath
adjective
2.
lower
noun
3.
a lower part, surface, etc
Word origin
Old English underneothan, from under + neothan below; related to Old Danish underneden; see beneath
underneath in American English
(ˌʌndərˈniθ)
adverb
1.
under; below; beneath
2.
on the underside; at a lower level
3. American Football
in front of the pass defenders
preposition
4.
under; below; beneath
5.
under the form, guise, or authority of
6. American Football
in front of
adjective
7.
under or lower
noun
8.
the underpart; bottom side
Word origin
ME undernethe < OE underneothan < under, under + neothan, below; akin to neothera, nether
Examples of 'underneath' in a sentence
underneath
Photographs taken minutes before the bomb went off yesterday show groups of people eating lunch underneath trees.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
And underneath the trees lions were prowling about.
Charles Kingsley The Water Babies (1863)
Storage boxes underneath can be used instead of cupboards.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Much speculation has been prompted by the fact that he buried a mysterious box underneath it.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
Tuck flap of skin underneath the bird to stop stuffing leaking out.
The Sun (2012)
You could clearly see her real hair underneath.
The Sun (2006)
It is virtually impossible to get at the new hair growing underneath.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Work in the same direction as the hair growth from underneath the brow to really define the shape.
The Sun (2015)
The base of the aluminium tray becomes extremely hot and if placed on the ground will burn the grass underneath.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They like tall woods without much vegetation underneath the trees, especially beech woods.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Or growing a beard underneath your face and driving around Pennsylvania in a horse and cart?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But to make it work, the face underneath has to be really fresh.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Brush back the sides and underneath hair, then smooth over the top into a hooked elastic.
The Sun (2013)
In a forest you have to cut down the old, big trees so the little trees underneath can grow.
Christianity Today (2000)
But the producers of the show said they had picked me because they could see a naturally beautiful face underneath, and that made me feel good.
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
underneath
British English: underneath /ˌʌndəˈniːθ/ ADVERB
If one thing is underneath another thing, the second thing covers the first thing.
He has on a denim shirt with a T-shirt underneath.
American English: underneath
Arabic: أَسْفَل
Brazilian Portuguese: debaixo de
Chinese: 在下面
Croatian: ispod
Czech: vespod
Danish: nedenunder
Dutch: onder
European Spanish: debajo
Finnish: alapuolella
French: en dessous
German: darunter
Greek: από κάτω
Italian: sotto
Japanese: 下に
Korean: 밑에
Norwegian: på undersiden
Polish: poniżej
European Portuguese: debaixo de
Romanian: sub
Russian: внизу
Latin American Spanish: debajo
Swedish: under
Thai: ภายใต้
Turkish: altında
Ukrainian: під
Vietnamese: ở dưới
British English: underneath /ˌʌndəˈniːθ/ PREPOSITION
If one thing is underneath another thing, the second thing covers the first thing.
The ring was underneath the sofa.
American English: underneath
Arabic: أَسْفَل
Brazilian Portuguese: embaixo
Chinese: 在...的下面
Croatian: pod
Czech: pod
Danish: neden under
Dutch: onder
European Spanish: debajo de
Finnish: alla
French: sous
German: unter
Greek: κάτω από
Italian: sotto
Japanese: ･･･の下に
Korean: ...의 바로 밑에
Norwegian: innunder
Polish: pod (czymś)
European Portuguese: por baixo
Romanian: sub
Russian: под
Latin American Spanish: debajo de
Swedish: nedanför
Thai: ข้างใต้
Turkish: altında
Ukrainian: під
Vietnamese: bên dưới
Chinese translation of 'underneath'
underneath
(ʌndəˈniːθ)
adv
(= below) 在下面 (zài xiàmiàn)
(fig, = at heart) 心底里(裡) (xīndǐli)
prep
(= below) 在 ... 下面 (zài ... xiàmiàn)
(fig) 在 ... 背后(後) (zài ... bèihòu)
n
the underneath底部 (dǐbù)
(preposition)
Definition
under or beneath
a table for two underneath the olive trees
Synonyms
beneath
below
at the bottom of
(adverb)
Definition
under or beneath
Underneath, Sophia was kind at heart.
Synonyms
inside
Do you get a feeling inside when you write something you like?
secretly
secretly organized events
in your heart
in your heart of hearts
in your innermost thoughts
(adjective)
Definition
lower
the underneath mechanism of the engine
Synonyms
underside
base
bottom
the bottom drawer of the cupboard
(noun)
Definition
a lower part or surface
The liquid formed on the underneath of the top plate.
Synonyms
bottom
the bottom of their shoes
base
Plunge the base of the pan into a bowl of very cold water.
underside
the underside of the car
Additional synonyms
in the sense of base
Definition
the lower side or face of a geometric construction
Plunge the base of the pan into a bowl of very cold water.