- below
- below, under, beneath, underneath mean in a lower position relatively to some other object or place.Below (opposed to above) applies to something which is anywhere in a lower plane than the object of reference; under (opposed to over) to something which is below in a relatively vertical line, and it may imply actual covering{
below sea level
}{the valley far below us
}{under a tree
}{1under the bed
}{hide one's light under a bushel
}{the Whirlpool Rapids are below, and the Cave of the Winds is under Niagara Falls
}{the whole visible landscape is below, but only a small portion of it under, an observer in a balloon
}Beneath is an equivalent of both below and under{heaven above, or . . . the earth beneath— Exod 20:4
}{beneath the spreading tree— Goldsmith
}Underneath is often employed in place of under or beneath. It is, however, the preferred term when there is the intent to imply complete or nearly complete concealment{mines underneath the city
}{garments worn underneath a dress
}In their extended senses below and under agree in expressing inferiority but differ (like above and over) in the immediacy of the relation expressed; thus, one officer may be below another in rank without being under him in immediate subordination. Similarly, with reference to deficiency, below is commonly used in general, under in more specific, relations{below the accepted standard
}{below normal temperatures
}{under six years of age
}Beneath frequently suggests social, moral, or general inferiority{married beneath herself
}{criticism beneath his notice
}{beneath contempt
}Underneath suggests, not inferiority, but something underlying and not indicated clearly by what is outwardly manifest{underneath his ingratiating manner one felt a sinister intention
}{there is something underneath this announcement, I am sure
}Antonyms: aboveContrasted words: over (see ABOVE)
New Dictionary of Synonyms. 2014.
