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

A presale for Linkin Park’s LP Underground fan club begins Nov. 18.

From Los Angeles Times

Some spend months underground - there is even a small economy of people selling food, cigarettes and cooked meals to the miners.

From BBC

Police are hesitant to go into the mine as some of those underground may be armed.

From BBC

An estimated 4,000 illegal gold miners are hiding underground in South Africa after the government cut off food and water in an effort to "smoke them out" and arrest them.

From BBC

Many miners spend months underground in unsafe conditions to provide for their families.

From BBC

Related Words

• clandestine
• experimental
• hidden
• private