under

preposition
UK: /ˈʌndə(r)/
US: /ˈʌndər/

  1. Below something.

    1. The cat is under the table. [ ] [ ]
    2. I found your keys under the sofa when I was cleaning the living room. [ ] [ ]

  2. Less than a particular amount or age.

    1. Children under 12 get a discount. [ ] [ ]
    2. You can't drive a car if you are under eighteen years old in many countries. [ ] [ ]

  3. Subject to a particular process or situation.

    1. The project is still under discussion. [ ] [ ]
    2. The company is under new management after the recent acquisition. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

lower beneath below
under adverb

  1. Below or beneath something.

    1. The roots go deep under. [ ] [ ]
    2. The tunnel runs far under the city, connecting different districts. [ ] [ ]

  2. In or into a lower position.

    1. The boat went under quickly. [ ] [ ]
    2. The swimmer struggled to stay afloat, fearing he would go under in the strong current. [ ] [ ]
under verb

  1. To experience or endure something difficult.

    1. He went under the knife. [ ] [ ]
    2. She had to go under a lot of stress during the final exams period. [ ] [ ]
under adjective

  1. To be affected by something.

    1. I am under pressure at work. [ ] [ ]
    2. We are operating under strict guidelines to ensure safety and compliance. [ ] [ ]
under adverb

  1. Used to indicate that someone is using a false name.

    1. He travels under the name 'Smith'. [ ] [ ]
    2. The spy operated under the alias 'Night Hawk' to conceal their true identity. [ ] [ ]
under prefix

  1. Below; lower in rank or position.

    1. He is the under secretary. [ ] [ ]
    2. The under sheriff assists the sheriff in the performance of their duties. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "under" in English means: Below something., Less than a particular amount or age., Subject to a particular process or situation..

The phonetic transcription of "under" is /ˈʌndə(r)/ in British English and /ˈʌndər/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "under": lower, beneath, below.

Example usage of "under": "The cat is under the table.". More examples on the page.