BELOW, UNDER, BENEATH, UNDERNEATH BELOW /bɪˈləʊ -ˈloʊ/ adverb, preposition 1 in a lower place or position, or on a lower level ≠ above: an animal that lives below ground Water was dripping onto the floor below. I could hear voices in the courtyard below my window. They camped a few hundred feet below the summit. Down below, people were talking and laughing. Somewhere far below, a door slammed. The kitchen is directly below her bedroom. Captain Parker went below (= to the lower level of the ship ), leaving Clooney in charge. 2 of a lower rank or having a less important job than someone else ≠ above: No one below the level of senior manager was present at the meeting. and/or below officers of the rank of captain and below 3 less than a particular number, amount, level etc ≠ above: Test scores below 50 were classed as ‘unsatisfactory’. In June the rate of inflation fell below 3%. Tom’s spelling is well below average (= much worse than the normal standard ). below freezing/zero (= lower than the temperature at which water freezes) In winter, temperatures dip to 40 degrees below freezing. and/or below free travel for children four years old and below 4 lower on the same page, or on a later page ≠ above: Details of courses are listed below. For more information, see below. BENEATH /bɪˈniːθ/ adverb, preposition formal 1 in or to a lower position than something, or directly under something (= underneath): The dolphins disappeared beneath the waves. Jo enjoyed feeling the warm sand beneath her feet. He was standing on the bridge looking at the river beneath. Some roofs collapsed beneath the weight of (= unable to support the weight of) so much snow. NOTES In everyday English, people usually use underneath (as an adverb or preposition) or under (as a preposition) when talking about position: They hid under the table. a picture with a caption underneath 2 covered by something: Shiona shivered beneath the bedclothes. 3 used to say that someone’s real character or feelings are not shown because their appearance or behaviour is different SYN underneath: Dave sensed that something more sinister lay beneath the woman’s cheerful exterior. Beneath the surface she was angry. 4 not good enough or suitable for someone: She acts as if even speaking to us is beneath her. He felt it would be beneath his dignity to comment. His mother felt he was marrying beneath him (= marrying someone who was not good enough). I consider such behaviour to be beneath contempt (= so bad that you have no respect for the person involved). 5 in a lower, less important rank or job than someone else( = below) THESAURUS UNDER /"ʌndə/ or /"ʌndər / preposition , adverb 1 below or at a lower level than something, or covered by something ≠ over: Wendy had hidden the box under her bed. We sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge. Write your name under your picture. I could see something glittering under the water. He was wearing a jacket under his coat. Under her arm, she carried a large portfolio. In summer, we often slept under the stars. I’d scare my mom by diving in and staying under (= staying under the water ) for as long as I could. The bench collapsed under the weight of (= unable to support the weight of ) so many people. 2 less than a particular number, amount, age, or price ≠ over: These toys are not suitable for children under five. Most of the events listed cost under £60. I spend just under four hours a day seeing customers. and/or under Children aged 12 or under must be accompanied by an adult. be under age (= be too young to legally drink, have sex etc ) 3 used to say what is being done to something or how it is being dealt with under discussion/consideration/review etc The possibility of employing more staff is still under discussion (= being discussed, considered, etc). All categories of expenditure are under review. Four new power stations are currently under construction. The port was coming under attack from enemy warships. 4 affected by a particular condition, influence, or situation: She’s been under a lot of pressure at work. under the influence of alcohol/drink/drugs etc He was accused of driving while under the influence of alcohol. The operation was carried out while she was under general anaesthetic. I’m glad to see that you have everything under control . Two of our national parks are currently under threat from road schemes. The doctor injected something into my arm and I immediately felt myself going under (= becoming unconscious ). 5 under conditions/circumstances if something happens under particular conditions, it happens when those conditions exist: I wish I’d met him under different circumstances. The system operates well under normal conditions. 6 according to a particular agreement, law, etc: the question of whether the trade is illegal under international law Under the terms of the agreement, the debt will be repaid over a 20-year period. 7 if something happens under a particular leader, government etc, it happens when they are in power: a program initiated under President Clinton and continued under President Bush Under her leadership, the magazine’s circulation doubled in less than a year. Would it have been different under a Labour government? 8 if you work under someone, they have a higher position in the company, organization etc than you, and they help to direct your work : She had a total staff of ten working under her. From 1847 to 1851 he served under Captain John Randolph Stokes. At Cambridge he studied under (= was a student of ) F. R. Leavis. 9 used to say in which part of a book, list, or system particular information can be found be/be filed/be listed etc under The baby’s records are filed under the mother’s last name. 10 if you write or do something under a particular name, you do it using that name instead of your real name: He made a few records under the name of Joe Ritchie. UNDERNEATH /ˌʌndəˈniːθ | -ər-/ preposition, adverb 1 directly under another object or covered by it: He got out of the car and looked underneath. It’s near where the railway goes underneath the road. She was wearing a smart jacket with a T-shirt underneath. Her blonde hair was hidden underneath a baseball cap. 2 on the lower surface of something : The car was rusty underneath. A number had been painted underneath the table. 3 used to say what someone’s character is really like when their behaviour shows a different character: She seems confident, but she’s really quite shy underneath. I think he’s a genuinely nice guy underneath it all. THESAURUS HESAURUS NOTES - under something that is under something else has that thing directly above it or covering it: The pen was under the desk. | She had a T-shirt on under her sweater. - below in a lower position than something else, though not always directly under it: From the cliffs we could barely see the people on the beach below us. | His apartment is below ours on the left. - underneath under – used especially to emphasize that something covers, touches, or hides something: The girls wear shorts underneath their cheerleading skirts. | I found the book underneath the sofa. - beneath formal under or at a lower level: They strolled hand in hand beneath the summer moon. | The water lies just beneath the surface of the earth. . with a T-shirt underneath. Her blonde hair was hidden underneath a baseball cap. 2 on the lower surface of something : The car was rusty underneath. A number had been painted underneath the. Ritchie. UNDERNEATH /ˌʌndəˈniːθ | -ər-/ preposition, adverb 1 directly under another object or covered by it: He got out of the car and looked underneath. It’s near where the railway goes underneath. BELOW, UNDER, BENEATH, UNDERNEATH BELOW /bɪˈləʊ -ˈloʊ/ adverb, preposition 1 in a lower place or position,