beneath

[ bih-neeth, -neeth ]

adverb

1. below; in or to a lower place, position, state, or the like.

   Antonyms: above

2. underneath:

   heaven above and the earth beneath.

preposition

1. below; under:

   beneath the same roof.

2. farther down than; underneath; lower in place than:

   The first drawer beneath the top one.

3. lower down on a slope than:

   beneath the crest of a hill.

4. inferior or less important, as in position, rank, or power:

   A captain is beneath a major.

5. unworthy of; below the level or dignity of:

   to regard others as beneath one; behavior that was beneath contempt.

beneath

/ bɪˈniːθ /

preposition

1. below, esp if covered, protected, or obscured by
2. not as great or good as would be demanded by

   beneath his dignity

adverb

1. below; underneath

Word History and Origins

Origin of beneath¹

before 900; Middle English benethe, Old English beneothan, equivalent to be- be- + neothan below, akin to Old High German nidana. See nether

Word History and Origins

Origin of beneath¹

Old English beneothan , from be- + neothan low; see nether

Synonym Study

See below.

Example Sentences

To survive, the miners and undocumented migrants go beneath the surface to escape poverty and dig up gold to sell it on the black market.

From BBC

Across the country, fear and tension about environmental threats were boiling beneath the surface.

From Salon

Across the country, fear and tension about environmental threats were boiling beneath the surface.

From Salon

Titan began its descent beneath the waves on the morning of 18 June 2023.

From BBC

Beneath the watchtower at UNDOF’s Camp Ziouani base, the Israeli fence snakes towards a line of volcanic mountains; a Syrian flag flutters in the trees beyond the post, marking the other side of the separation zone.

From BBC