underground

adjective
UK: /ˈʌndəɡraʊnd/
US: /ˈʌndərɡraʊnd/

  1. Below the surface of the earth.

    1. The miners worked in the underground tunnels. [ ] [ ]
    2. The city has an extensive underground network of pipes for water. [ ] [ ]

  2. Secret or hidden; not publicly acknowledged.

    1. They ran an underground gambling operation. [ ] [ ]
    2. The activist group operated an underground network to help refugees escape. [ ] [ ]

  3. Relating to unconventional or avant-garde movements, often in the arts or politics.

    1. He was involved in the underground music scene. [ ] [ ]
    2. The film gained a cult following in underground film circles. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

radical clandestine alternative subway unconventional hidden metro secret subterranean
underground noun

  1. A railway system that runs below the surface of a city.

    1. I take the underground to work every day. [ ] [ ]
    2. The underground is a quick way to get around London. [ ] [ ]

  2. A secret or illegal organization or movement.

    1. The resistance formed an underground to fight the occupation. [ ] [ ]
    2. The political underground plotted to overthrow the government. [ ] [ ]
underground verb

  1. To move or go below the surface of the earth.

    1. The train went underground after the station. [ ] [ ]
    2. The burrowing animal went underground to hide from predators. [ ] [ ]

  2. To hide or conceal something.

    1. The company tried to underground the scandal. [ ] [ ]
    2. They attempted to underground evidence of their illegal activities. [ ] [ ]
underground adverb

  1. Below the surface of the earth.

    1. The treasure was buried underground. [ ] [ ]
    2. They built a house completely underground to save energy. [ ] [ ]

  2. In secret or hiding.

    1. The fugitive remained underground for several years. [ ] [ ]
    2. The reporter investigated the story, working underground to gather information. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "underground" in English means: Below the surface of the earth., Secret or hidden; not publicly acknowledged., Relating to unconventional or avant-garde movements, often in the arts or politics..

The phonetic transcription of "underground" is /ˈʌndəɡraʊnd/ in British English and /ˈʌndərɡraʊnd/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "underground": radical, clandestine, alternative, subway, unconventional, hidden, metro, secret, subterranean.

Example usage of "underground": "The miners worked in the underground tunnels.". More examples on the page.