underwater

[ uhn-der-waw-ter, -wot-er ]

adjective

1. existing or occurring under water.
2. designed to be used under water.
3. located below a ship's waterline.

adverb

1. beneath the water:

   to travel underwater.

noun

1. the water beneath the surface:

   cold currents in the underwater.

2. underwaters, the depths, as of a sea, lake, etc.

underwater

/ ˈʌndəˈwɔːtə /

adjective

1. being, occurring, or going under the surface of the water, esp the sea

   underwater exploration

2. nautical below the water line of a vessel
3. (of a stock option or other asset) having a market value below its purchase value

adverb

1. beneath the surface of the water

Word History and Origins

Origin of underwater¹

First recorded in 1620–30; under- + water

Example Sentences

Over the past 20 years, the team has used the institute’s underwater technology to gather more information on the sea slug.

From Los Angeles Times

Seeing the coral, which is in the Solomon Islands, was like seeing a "cathedral underwater", he said.

From BBC

A couple of days into the search, there were reports of underwater noises picked up by a search plane’s sonar, raising the possibility they were coming from the sub.

From BBC

Deep Sea Vision is now branching out from its original mission, working with “foreign governments, international organizations and corporations” interested in its underwater technology.

From Los Angeles Times

Negative ads drove both candidates' favorability ratings underwater and the polls tightened in the race's closing weeks.

From Salon

Related Words

• submerged
• undersea