under
Not on top
The main idea expressed by under, to a lower place, is shared by other prepositions in English, such as below and beneath, and under is interchangeable with them in many cases.
Under is most commonly used when the thing above it is heavy or has some influencing authority: The shack was buried under tons of debris; Under the new law police have much greater powers.
People or institutions in authority are often the object of under: She studied under several masters of the violin; Under the occupation the country sank deeper into poverty.
Beneath earth's surface
- belowAt a lower position
- buriedPlaced beneath earth
- tunnelEnclosed underground route
- subwayUnderground transit passage
basement · cellar · burrow · cavern · underpass · underbelly · subsurface · underfloor
Person of lower rank
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- inferiorOf lower rank
- juniorLower in standing
- deputyAuthorized substitute or assistant
assistant · apprentice · intern · aide · lieutenant · vassal · minion · second-in-command
Below legal minimum years
- minorScale with lowered third
- juvenileYoung person or animal
- adolescentPerson in puberty
- teenageOf youth, 13-19
pubescent · young · immature · formative · fledgling · budding · greenhorn · neophyte
Foundational support beneath
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- baseSupporting bottom structure
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- groundworkFoundational preparation for something
footing · substrate · substructure · support · framework · cornerstone · infrastructure · underlay
Concealed from authorities
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- spyCovert information gatherer
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
secrecy · incognito · surveillance · informant · mole · sting · wiretap · stakeout
Insufficiently grown or advanced
- emergingComing into view
- third-worldLess industrialized nations
- industrializingDeveloping manufacturing capacity
- modernizingMaking something current
infrastructure · growth · urbanization · advancement · progress · improvement · expansion · transformation
Insufficient employees for workload
- underfundedInsufficiently financially supported
- underpaidGiven inadequate wages
- underweightBelow normal mass
- underfedLacking adequate food
undernourished · underequipped · underrepresented · underserved · underdeveloped · underperforming · underestimated · underappreciated
subterranean
Beneath earth's surface
subway · basement · cellar · burrow · cavern · underpass · underbelly · subsurface · underfloor · catacomb
underling
Person of lower rank
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- inferiorOf lower rank
- juniorLower in standing
deputy · assistant · apprentice · intern · aide · lieutenant · vassal · minion · second-in-command · understudy
underage
Below legal minimum years
- minorScale with lowered third
- juvenileYoung person or animal
- adolescentPerson in puberty
teenage · pubescent · young · immature · formative · fledgling · budding · greenhorn · neophyte · novice
underpinning
Foundational support beneath
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- baseSupporting bottom structure
- bedrockSolid stone underground
groundwork · footing · substrate · substructure · support · framework · cornerstone · infrastructure · underlay · scaffolding
clandestine
Concealed from authorities
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- spyCovert information gatherer
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
stealth · secrecy · incognito · surveillance · informant · mole · sting · wiretap · stakeout · sleeper
underdeveloped
Insufficiently grown or advanced
- emergingComing into view
- third-worldLess industrialized nations
- industrializingDeveloping manufacturing capacity
modernizing · infrastructure · growth · urbanization · advancement · progress · improvement · expansion · transformation · incubation
understaffed
Insufficient employees for workload
- underfundedInsufficiently financially supported
- underpaidGiven inadequate wages
- underweightBelow normal mass
underfed · undernourished · underequipped · underrepresented · underserved · underdeveloped · underperforming · underestimated · underappreciated · underutilized
underover
Above or exceeding
above · more than · exceeding · beyond · in excess of
underover
Above or exceeding
above · dominant · superior · in charge of · commanding
- I understandGrasping what's meant
- under the weatherMildly sick or unwell
- under arrestHeld by authorities
- under suspicionRegarded as possibly guilty
- under pressureExperiencing duress or stress
- under the bedSpace below sleeping surface
understand, underground, understood, underneath, undergo, underline, underwear, underwater, undercover