underground

[ adverb uhn-der-ground; adjective noun verb uhn-der-ground ]

adverb

1. beneath the surface of the ground: ground:

   traveling underground by subway.

2. in concealment or secrecy; not openly:

   subversion carried on underground.

adjective

1. existing, situated, operating, or taking place beneath the surface of the ground. ground.
2. used, or for use, underground.
3. hidden or secret; not open:

   underground political activities.

4. published or produced by political or social radicals or nonconformists:

   an underground newspaper.

5. avant-garde; experimental:

   an underground movie.

6. critical of or attacking the established society or system:

   underground opinion.

7. of or for nonconformists; unusual:

   an underground vegetarian restaurant.

noun

1. the place or region beneath the surface of the ground. ground.
2. an underground space or passage.
3. a secret organization fighting the established government or occupation forces:

   He fought in the French underground during the Nazi occupation of France.

4. (often initial capital letter) a movement or group existing outside the establishment and usually reflecting unorthodox, avant-garde, or radical views.
5. Chiefly British. a subway system.

verb (used with object)

1. to place beneath the surface of the ground: ground:

   to underground utility lines.

underground

adjective

1. occurring, situated, or used below ground level

   an underground tunnel

   an underground explosion

2. secret; hidden

   underground activities

adverb

1. going below ground level

   the tunnel led underground

2. into hiding or secrecy

   the group was driven underground

noun

1. a space or region below ground level
2. 1. a movement dedicated to overthrowing a government or occupation forces, as in the European countries occupied by the German army in World War II
   2. ( as modifier )

      an underground group

3. the underground
   an electric passenger railway operated in underground tunnels US and Canadian equivalentsubway
4. usually preceded by the
   1. any avant-garde, experimental, or subversive movement in popular art, films, music, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      underground music

      the underground press

Word History and Origins

Origin of underground¹

First recorded in 1565–75; under- + ground ¹

Example Sentences

Some of the tubes are so large, they are used to host underground concerts.

From Science Daily

Some spend months underground, and illegal mining has spawned a small economy providing food and cigarettes to the miners.

From BBC

In 2013, a group of researchers wanted to see if they could keep wood from breaking down by burying it underground.

From NewsForKids.net

In 2013, a group of researchers wanted to see if they could keep wood from breaking down by burying it underground.

From NewsForKids.net

"It was a zombie knife, a serrated zombie knife," Mr Olumide said of the attack on his son outside Clapham South underground station in South London.

From BBC

Related Words

• clandestine
• experimental
• hidden
• private