below

[ bih-loh ]

adverb

1. in or toward a lower place:

   Look out below!

2. on, in, or toward a lower level, as a lower deck of a ship:

   The captain of the ship went below.

3. beneath the surface of the water:

   Divers were sent below to view the wreck.

4. on earth:

   the fate of creatures here below.

5. in hell or the infernal regions.
6. at a later point on a page or in a text: Compare above ( def 5 ).

   See the illustration below.

7. in a lower rank or grade:

   He was demoted to the class below.

8. under zero on the temperature scale:

   The temperature in Buffalo was ten below this morning.

9. Theater. downstage. Compare above ( def 8 ).
10. Zoology. on the lower or ventral side.

preposition

1. lower down than:

   below the knee.

2. lower in rank, degree, amount, rate, etc., than:

   below cost;

   below freezing.

3. too low or undignified to be worthy of; beneath:

   He considered such an action below his notice.

4. Theater. downstage of:

   There are two chairs below the table.

below

/ bɪˈləʊ /

preposition

1. at or to a position lower than; under
2. less than in quantity or degree
3. south of
4. downstream of
5. unworthy of; beneath

adverb

1. at or to a lower position or place
2. at a later place (in something written)

   see below

3. archaic.
   beneath heaven; on earth or in hell

Word History and Origins

Origin of below¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English bilooghe; equivalent to be- + low ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of below¹

C14: bilooghe , from bi by + looghe low ¹

Synonym Study

Below, under, beneath indicate position in some way lower than something else. Below implies being in a lower plane: below the horizon, the water line. Under implies being lower in a perpendicular line: The book is under the chair. Beneath may have a meaning similar to below, but more usually denotes being under so as to be covered, overhung, or overtopped: the pool beneath the falls.

Example Sentences

The commission must approve exception appointments at the most senior grade, but below this level departments have a free hand to recruit.

From BBC

In the teaser below, we see an image of Xenomorph with an image of the Earth in a reflection of its shiny skull.

From Salon

Their labor is for the most part barely compensated, at rates far below minimum wage.

From Los Angeles Times

The inflation rate increased to 2.3% in October, well below the level at which it peaked two years ago.

From BBC

Most working-age benefits, such as Universal Credit, will go up by 1.7% in April - which analysts predict will be below the pace at which prices are rising.

From BBC

Related Words

• down