under

¹

[ uhn-der ]

preposition

1. beneath and covered by:

   under a table; under a tree.

2. below the surface of:

   under water; under the skin.

3. at a point or position lower or further down than:

   He was hit just under his eye.

4. in the position or state of bearing, supporting, sustaining, enduring, etc.:

   to sink under a heavy load.

5. beneath the heading or within the category of:

   Classify the books under “Fiction” and “General.”

6. as designated, indicated, or represented by:

   to register under a new name.

7. below in degree, amount, etc.; less than:

   purchased under cost.

8. below in rank; of less dignity, importance, or the like:

   A corporal is under a sergeant.

9. subject to the authority, direction, or supervision of:

   a bureau functioning under the prime minister.

10. subject to the instruction or advice of:

    to study the violin under Heifetz.

11. subject to the influence, condition, force, etc., of:

    under these circumstances; born under the sign of Taurus.

12. protected, controlled, or watched by:

    under guard.

13. authorized, warranted, or attested by:

    under one's hand or seal.

14. in accordance with:

    under the provisions of the law.

15. during the rule, administration, or government of:

    new laws passed under President Reagan.

16. in the state or process of:

    under repair; a matter under consideration.

17. Nautical. powered by the means indicated:

    under sail; under steam.

adverb

1. below or beneath something:

   Go over the fence, not under.

2. beneath the surface.
3. in a lower place.
4. in a lower degree, amount, etc.:

   selling blouses for $25 and under.

5. in a subordinate position or condition.
6. in or into subjection or submission.

adjective

1. beneath or on the underside:

   the under threads of the embroidery.

2. lower in position.
3. lower in degree, amount, etc.
4. lower in rank or condition.
5. subject to the control, effect, etc., as of a person, drug, or force:

   The hypnotist had her subject under at once. The patient was under as soon as he breathed the anesthetic.

verb phrase

1. 1. to give in; succumb; yield:

      She tried desperately to fight off her drowsiness, but felt herself going under.

   2. to fail in business:

      After 20 years on the same corner they finally went under.

under-

²

1. a prefixal use of under, as to indicate place or situation below or beneath ( underbrush; undertow ); lower in grade or dignity ( undersheriff; understudy ); of lesser degree, extent, or amount ( undersized ); or insufficiency ( underfeed ).

under

¹

/ ˈʌndə /

preposition

1. directly below; on, to, or beneath the underside or base of

   under one's feet

2. less than

   under forty years

3. lower in rank than

   under a corporal

4. subject to the supervision, jurisdiction, control, or influence of
5. subject to (conditions); in (certain circumstances)
6. within a classification of

   a book under theology

7. known by

   under an assumed name

8. planted with

   a field under corn

9. powered by

   under sail

10. astrology during the period that the sun is in (a sign of the zodiac)

    born under Aries

adverb

1. below; to a position underneath something

under-

²

prefix

1. below or beneath

   underarm

   underground

2. of lesser importance or lower rank

   undersecretary

3. to a lesser degree than is proper; insufficient or insufficiently

   undercharge

   underemployed

4. indicating secrecy or deception

   underhand

Word History and Origins

Origin of under¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch onder, German unter, Old Norse undir; akin to Latin inferus “lower” ( inferior ( def ) )

Origin of under²

Middle English; Old English

Word History and Origins

Origin of under¹

Old English; related to Old Saxon, Gothic undar, Old High German untar, Old Norse undir, Latin infra

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. under wraps. wrap ( def 14 ).

More idioms and phrases containing under

• below (under) par
• born under a lucky star
• buckle under
• come under
• cut the ground from under
• don't let the grass grow under one's feet
• everything but the kitchen sink (under the sun)
• fall under
• false colors, sail under
• get under someone's skin
• go under
• hide one's light under a bushel
• hot under the collar
• keep under one's hat
• knock the bottom out (props out from under)
• knuckle under
• light a fire under
• nothing new under the sun
• of (under) age
• out from under
• plow under
• pull the rug out from under
• put the skids under
• six feet under
• snow under
• sweep under the rug
• water over the dam (under the bridge)

Synonym Study

See below.

Example Sentences

In a retirement speech in September 2023, Milley — who worries about being recalled to active duty and court-martialed under a new Trump administration, according to Woodward’s latest book, “War” — offered an indirect commentary widely presumed to refer to the former president: “We don’t take an oath to a king or a queen, to a tyrant or dictator, or wannabe dictator.”

From Los Angeles Times

Prominent experts such as historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat say that under classic authoritarianism, the military is viewed as a tool for pursuing the leader’s own aims, rather than upholding the state’s interests and safeguarding its people.

From Los Angeles Times

Under former President Barack Obama, she called for escalating the U.S. war on terror, accusing the president of failing to target extremist rebel factions in Syria.

From Salon

The force said the dog had since been put down under the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991.

From BBC

Under its president, the writer Amin Maalouf, the dictionary committee meets every Thursday morning and after discussion gives its ruling on definitions that have been drawn up in preliminary form by outside experts.

From BBC