underneath
underneath Lexical Profile
underneath Game Scores & Validity
• preposition
Situated directly below something else, especially so as to be covered or concealed by it.
"She found her missing keys tucked underneath a stack of old magazines on the coffee table."
Concealed or masked by a particular outward appearance, behavior, or demeanor.
"Underneath her calm professional exterior, she was thrilled about the promotion."
• adverb
Situated or directly below something else; on the lower side or surface.
"The jacket looked thin from the outside, but it had a warm fleece lining underneath."
In reality or inwardly, behind an outward appearance or behavior.
"He acts tough in public, but he is actually very gentle and compassionate underneath."
• noun
The lower surface or part of something; the underside.
"The mechanic used a flashlight to inspect the underneath of the vehicle for rust."
• adjective
Situated or located on the lower side or surface; lower.
"The carpenter sanded the underneath part of the wooden shelf until it was completely smooth."
Word Nuance & Usage
"Underneath" is slightly more emphatic than "under" or "beneath" and often implies that an object is completely covered or concealed by whatever is above it.
• Rhymes for underneath
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English "underneothan", formed by combining "under" (beneath) with "neothan" (below, down), from Proto-Germanic *nithana.