A1

under English

Learners of English as a second language usually know the word under once they have reached the level A1 – Beginner. English words by learner level A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2

Meaning under meaning

What does under mean?

Definitions in simple English

under Preposition

— In the same place as another thing, but lower. They ate under the trees.

— In the control of. He was under the leader of the organization.

— In the middle of a process; experiencing. The idea is under the committee's judgement (judging).

under

— adverb down to defeat, death, or ruin their competitors went under

— adjective (= nether) located below or beneath something else nether garments the under parts of a machine

— adjective lower in rank, power, or authority an under secretary

— adverb into unconsciousness this will put the patient under

— adverb through a range downward children six and under will be admitted free

— adverb down below get under quickly!

— adverb below the horizon the sun went under

— adverb below some quantity or limit fifty dollars or under

— adverb in or into a state of subordination or subjugation we must keep our disappointment under

— adverb further down see under for further discussion

Synonyms under synonyms

What other words have the same or similar meaning as under?

under English » English

below

beneath

underneath

down

lower

inside

bottom

nether

low

at the bottom

according to

in accord with

deep

inferior

in

by

while

under me

subordinate

subject to

south

on

lower side

less than

less

interior

inner

in accordance with

following

downwards

downstairs

body

beside

below me

bellow

before

at

worthless

worn next to the skin

within

with

west

underwear

underlying

undercover

underclothes

under-neath

under-

thereinafter

subsidiary

Topics under topics

What do people use under to talk about?

States Location Here, there On

Under, below

• What words indicate that something is under something that is directly above it?
  under underneath beneath under- sub-
• What words indicate that something is under a covering (such as clothes, skin, or paint)?
  under underneath beneath

Social behavior Authority Status

Low status

• What words refer to being lower in status than someone else?
  assistant subordinate under

States Quantity More

Less

• What words indicate that something is less than a particular number or amount?
  less than under below lower within minus

Language and thought Want Influence

Control

• What words refer to being under someone's control?
  be under someone's control be in someone's power be under someone's spell be at someone's mercy be a doormat

Language and thought Communication Say

Criticize

• What words refer to being criticized by someone else?
  receive criticism come in for criticism be under attack come under attack get a lot of flak take a lot of flak be open to criticism

Daily life Food

Food preparation

• What words describe how thoroughly something has been cooked?
  raw rare medium well done under done under cooked over cooked burnt burned to a crisp crispy charred just right

Daily life Food Types of food Alcoholic beverage

Drunk

• What words refer to the effect alcohol has on a person?
  be drunk be intoxicated soused had too many under the influence drink under the table

Daily life Sleep

Go to sleep

• What words refer to getting into bed?
  get into bed crawl into bed curl up in bed get under the covers crawl under the covers fall into bed (exhausted) jump in bed

Grammar Name

Name of a person

• What words refer to a name you use for yourself that is not your real name?
  false name pseudonym pen name stage name alias a.k.a. (also known as) under the name of under an assumed name go by the name of

Universe, creation Water Movement of water

Wave

• What do people do with waves?
  surf surfboard ride the waves dive under

Person Healthy

Sick

• What words refer to being a little sick?
  off color under the weather run down not feel yourself not be yourself

Person Healthy Symptom of disease

Lose consciousness

• What words refer to something causing someone to lose consciousness?
  knock out put out put under (anesthesia) stupefy

Language and thought Want Influence

Compel

• What words refer to forcing someone to do something?
  compel blackmail browbeat bully (v) coerce constrain drive force someone to do something use force force something on insist impel impose your will on make someone do something oblige press pressure put pressure on push use strong-arm tactics use strong-arm methods under duress be breathing down someone's neck

Language and thought Emotion Feel bad Angry

Annoyed

• What words refer to causing someone to feel annoyed?
  annoy antagonize bug exacerbate exasperate frustrate gall harass hassle irritate nag needle nettle pester piss someone off much to my annoyance it ticks me off it hacks me off get on your nerves get under your skin drive you crazy drive you nuts drive you up the wall

Language and thought Emotion Feel bad Afraid

Worried

• What words refer to being worried all the time?
  have a lot on your mind be under a strain preoccupied stressed out

Language and thought Communication Say Ask

Hide your thoughts

• What words refer to hiding information?
  hide not show conceal keep secret cover up suppress repress disguise mask put on a brave face bottle something up be non-committal sweep something under the rug cover your tracks

Social behavior Prosperity, trouble Respond to trouble

Brave

• What words describe someone who is brave?
  courageous brave bold adventurous assured audacious confident cool under fire daring dauntless doughty fearless gallant gutsy heroic intrepid never-say-die plucky spunky stout stouthearted undaunted valiant valorous

Social behavior Prosperity, trouble Chance

Unlucky

• What words describe someone who always has bad luck?
  unlucky with my luck just my luck jinxed born under a bad star cursed

Social behavior Law Trial

Investigate a crime

• What words refer to investigating a crime or accident?
  investigate look into inquire hold an inquiry conduct an inquiry make inquiries go into probe delve into be under investigation examine obtain evidence

Social behavior Law Trial

Suspect

• What words describe someone who is suspected?
  suspected (terrorist) be under suspicion

Social behavior Conflict Fight

Attack

• What words refer to the person or place that is attacked?
  victim target be under attack

Social behavior Religion Miracle, supernatural power

Curse

• What words refer to cursing someone?
  curse put/place a curse on be under a curse be cursed

Daily life Adornment

Care for the fingernails

• What words are used to describe the condition of the nails?
  long clean dirty dirt under the nails chipped curved

Daily life

Sleep

• What words refer to sleeping someplace unusual, for instance in someone else's house, or outside?
  sleepover sleep outside sleep under the stars camp campout bivouac

Work and occupation Agriculture

Harvest

• What is done to a field after the crops are harvested?
  lie fallow animals graze plow under plants

Work and occupation Finance Have wealth

Store wealth

• Where is wealth stored?
  bank storehouse vault safe piggy bank cookie jar cash box wallet purse money belt under the mattress

Work and occupation Finance Dishonest financial practices

Bribe

• What words refer to bribing someone?
  bribe offer a bribe give a bribe take a bribe bribery corrupt corruption kickback money under the table

Physical actions Move Travel Travel by water

Dive

• What words refer to sinking under the water?
  sink go down go under submerge

Physical actions Move Pursue

Prevent from moving

• What words describe someone who is being prevented from moving?
  be under restraint bound captive in confinement held limited restricted

Physical actions Move something

Carry

• What words refer to carrying many things?
  be loaded (down) with overloaded be laden with be weighed down with under the weight of

Physical actions Move something Move something in a direction

Lower something

• What words refer to putting something under something?
  put under put underneath

Physical actions Move something Move something in a direction

Put in

• What words refer to putting something into a hole or small space?
  put in/into/inside slide something into tuck in/into/under insert

States Big Distance

Near

• What words indicate that something is near enough so that you can do something?
  near enough close enough within walking distance within reach within range convenient handy be close at hand around the corner close up up close at close quarters at close range right under your nose

States Time Relative time Right time

On time

• What words indicate that something happens before it is too late?
  in time just in time in the nick of time not a moment too soon at the last minute at the eleventh hour catch cut it fine cut it too close made it in by a whisker just under the wire

States Time Aspectual time

Age

• What words refer to all the people of the same age?
  generation age group the under-(ten)s the over-(ten)s

Grammar General words Thing

Situation

• What words indicate that something must happen or cannot happen because of the situation?
  under the circumstances in the circumstances given the circumstances given the situation as it is as things stand force of circumstances the way things are

Grammar Semantic constituents related to verbs Epistemic moods Unsure

Think so

• What words indicate that you think something is true, but you are not completely sure about it?
  think think it is possible believe bet would gamble would wager guess reckon speculate surmise suspect get the impression have the impression be under the impression get the idea feel have the feeling get the feeling

Examples under examples

How do I use under in a sentence?

Simple sentences

There is a cat under the bed.

Tom hid under the table.

It's under the table.

I hid under the table.

She was sitting under a tree.

Don't hide under the bed.

There's a monster under my bed.

A cat came out from under the desk.

You have dirt under your fingernails.

Nothing new under the sun.

Tom put all his money in a box and hid it under his bed.

There is a monster under my bed.

We're under attack!

We can't work under these conditions.

I accept, but only under one condition.

The ice will give under your weight.

Are you feeling under the weather?

It was dark under the bridge.

The bridge crashed under the pressure.

There is a cat under the desk.

There is an apple under the desk.

A cat appeared from under the desk.

Stick the bag down under the seat.

The company was in the red and went under.

The firm went under due to lack of capital.

You must act under the leadership of your supervisor.

We advanced under cover of darkness.

We are under his command.

Our new school building is under construction.

Applicants must be under thirty years old.

English law prohibits children under 16 from buying cigarettes.

Movie subtitles

Even under the rubble.

If you concentrate on Zero too much, they will pull the rug out from under you!

Under his successors, Zheng He's voyages were suspended.

Some candidates went completely insane under the pressure.

I've got everything under control!

We have to understand that life will evolve under conditions which seem horribly hostile, horribly alien.

Even under the surfaces of planets or nearby moons.

It's fun to speculate about how life might evolve under conditions that are very different from those here on the earth.

I want to know why I died and lied under the ground like that.

It was under Musashi's orders that you met with him.

I was formerly a common foot soldier under Ukita Hideie-sama.

I'm under your care. Sure.

I'm putting both of you under at the same time.

I was there training under this Dr. Pearlman.

Their union is celebrated under favorable auspices.

I've just received word you'll be serving under the young duke of Aumale who'll command Yusuf's unit.

I could take care of him and his studies. Under one condition.

In Paris, France made you an officer and freed Italy. Here, France keeps Algeria under its yoke.

What joy to see my son again after 3 years of absence, now a grown man covered in glory under the French banner.

We had a feverish month. Algiers was under siege.

Mmm. Wait till you see them under clothes.

They're under the command of the United Nations.

Dr. Gilmore, you and all your Zero-Zero cyborgs are under arrest for first-degree homicide.

We're placing you under protective custody.

The North American unit and I have been under his command for quite a while now.

Oh, no. They've got you under their spell, too?

You seemed to be laboring under the impression that you'd taken over this station.

We are used to living under the boot of bullies.

I'm under.

Under the box.

In, on, under, in front of, behind, between.

You can each of you make one phone call home but you must not, under any circumstances, tell them where you are and what is happening.

She's either under some sort of spell, under a hallucination, thinks she's seeing ghosts, is actually seeing ghosts.

And so the reason she dragged Derek into his house is because she was under the spell of Peter hale.

It wants to find an owner, and Gerard thought he had it under control.

Putting John Mayer under arrest is a tragedy of international contradictions.

Have you been well? Would someone who's curious as to how I've been doing not contact me and only meet in a place like this, under these kind of circumstances?

Thank you. Seeing Master falling for you was like my child growing up well under the sun, so I felt really good.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO WITH HIM? WHAT'S UNDER MY FEET, KEN?

BUT I FELT I HAD TO COME DOWN AND EXPRESS SOME CONCERNS. WELL, I'VE GOT IT UNDER CONTROL.

News and current affairs

The rot began during the 1980s, under Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.

Because the poor have so little money to spend, drug companies, under current arrangements, have little incentive to do research on the diseases that afflict them.

Yet it also noted that the region's biodiversity was under massive threat, with little or no protection.

It looks increasingly likely that, as under Leonid Brezhnev, we will see the same names in the news for decades to come.

Under Putin, the security service has had its revenge.

This party will be centralized under personal leadership and will reduce the state to a legal fiction.

As in the Soviet era, state and governmental officials will be reduced to party ciphers - the role that President Medvedev will play under General Secretary Putin.

MUNICH - Under substantial external pressure, the eurozone's crisis-hit countries are, at long last, bringing themselves to make painful cuts in their government budgets.

Greece, on the other hand, is under the influence of a strong import lobby.

So how can Turkey under these conditions maintain confidence in the EU's fairness?

Many, perhaps most, are under sixteen years of age.

The good news for all women, East and West, is that President Karzai, under intense international criticism - and not just Western criticism - changed the law less than one week after the march.

Such regulatory reform is now under consideration by the European Commission, and French support is imperative if the EU is to announce this month the necessary legislative moves to promote transparency.

Of course, there is a prominent example of just that: Kofi Annan, under whose stewardship the UN has undergone a remarkable improvement.

But gold bugs are right to worry about whether the government will honor its commitments under more extreme circumstances.

Under these circumstances, budgetary recklessness is a virtue, at least in the short term.

In other countries, like Greece, as well as under regional administrations in Italy and Spain, a government-led hiring spree created secure jobs for the moderately educated.

Is Burma, like South Africa under de Klerk, truly poised to emerge from a half-century of self-imposed isolation?

Above all, perpetrators of violence against women should be prosecuted and tried under due process of law.

But he refused, even under direct questioning by reporters, to reveal an exact date.

The Chinese government, under the Communist Party, has every reason to feel confident.