DictionaryAI

under

UN-dur/ˈʌndɚ/UKUN-duh/ˈʌndə/

17 meanings of under

Practice

  1. 1
    beneathpreposition
    Beneath or below something, covered by it, or passing beneath it from one side to the other.

    We found the spare key under a flowerpot by the back door.

    She wore a sweater under her coat.

    UsageOften close to below, but under is more usual for something covered or touching: under the blanket.

    Similarbelow, beneath, underneath

    Oppositeover, above

  2. 2
    ruled bypreposition
    Subordinate to, controlled by, or in accordance with.

    She worked under a strict manager for years.

    Under the treaty, both sides withdrew.

    UsageOften under + a person or rule: work under a manager, under the law.

    Oppositeover, above

  3. 3
    preposition
    Subject to, affected by, or undergoing something, such as a process, a condition, or a force or attack.

    The bridge is under repair until May.

    He is under pressure to resign.

    UsageCommon in under repair, under pressure, under attack, under construction.

  4. 4
    less thanpreposition
    Less than; below a stated figure.

    The car cost just under ten thousand.

    He ran the mile in under four minutes.

    UsageBefore numbers and ages: under ten dollars, children under five.

    Similarbelow

    Oppositeover, above

  5. 5
    in categorypreposition
    Within the category, heading, or classification of.

    The book is shelved under history, not politics.

    Her name appears under 'contributors'.

    UsageUsed for headings and lists: filed under history, listed under H.

  6. 6
    using namepreposition
    Using or adopting a particular name or identity.

    The band recorded under three different names.

    After escaping from prison, he worked for years as a cook under a false name.

    UsageUsually under a name: under a false name, under the name Ziggy.

  7. 7
    not enoughadverbin compounds
    Usually in compounds, less than is adequate; insufficiently.

    The report says the region is underfunded.

    The chicken was undercooked in the middle.

    UsageUsually written solid: undercooked, underpaid; a few, like under-represented, are often hyphenated.

    Similarinsufficiently, inadequately

    Oppositeover

    Note

    A shortfall meaning that rarely stands alone. It works mostly as the first half of a compound, saying that something received too little of the action named. Outside compounds, the informal 'a bit under' carries the same idea as a free word.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of under apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

The word comes from Middle English "under," from Old English "under," going back to Proto-Germanic "*under." This root arose from a merger of Proto-Indo-European words meaning "under" and "inside," and it is related to German "unter," Dutch "onder," and Danish and Norwegian "under," as well as Sanskrit "antar" ("within") and Latin "infrā" ("below") and "inter" ("between").

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 8 facts