1
: in or into a position below or beneath something
2
: below or short of some quantity, level, or limit
$10 or under
—often used in combinationunderstaffed
3
: in or into a condition of subjection, subordination, or unconsciousness
put the patient under for surgery
4
: down to defeat, ruin, or death
weaker competitors will be forced under
5
: so as to be covered
buried under by the avalanche
1
: below or beneath so as to be overhung, surmounted, covered, protected, or concealed by
under sunny skies
a soft heart under a stern exterior
under cover of darkness
2
a
: subject to the authority, control, guidance, or instruction of
served under the general
under the terms of the contract
a program that runs under any operating system
b
: receiving or undergoing the action or effect of
under pressure
courage under fire
under the influence of alcohol
the image of a point under a mapping
under oath
3
a
: within the group or designation of
under this heading
b
: having as name or title
traveling under an alias
4
: less or lower than (as in size, amount, or rank)
especially
: falling short of a standard or required degree
under the legal age
under par
1
a
: lying or placed below, beneath, or on the ventral side
—often used in combination
the ocean's undercurrents
the underside of a car
b
: facing or protruding downward
—often used in combination
the undersurface of a leaf
2
: lower in rank or authority : subordinate
—often used in combination
the undersecretary of defense
3
: lower than usual, proper, or desired in amount, quality, or degree
—often used in combination
undernourished children
Examples of under in a Sentence
Adverb
Pull the bed sheets tight then fold the ends under.
He turned under his shirt's collar.
The whale surfaced briefly then dove under again.
The bridge was too low for the ship to sail under.
A score of 60 is needed to pass; anything under is failing.
They had to put me under for surgery.
Preposition
They couldn't climb over the wall, so they dug a hole under it.
Draw a line under each word you don't know.
We sat under a tree and rested a while.
I'm wearing a sweater under my jacket.
The ball rolled under the car.
How long can you hold your breath under water?
The cafe is under new management.
The army captured three forts while under the general's command.
He has been under a lot of pressure at work lately.
You will be under anesthesia during the operation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
The viral post comes as just under of fifth (18 percent) of couples in the United States had a destination wedding in 2024, according to a survey of 17,000 couples in the country who got married last year conducted by The Knot, the wedding planning website.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Last school year, just under 82 percent of kindergarteners in Gaines County were vaccinated against measles.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
Two stars on the under, but prop players remember: Emeka Egbuka (+155 for a touchdown) gets the ball in big spots for Ohio State.
—Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for under
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adverb
Scheffler proceeded to go five under in his last 11 holes.
—Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
The viral post comes as just under of fifth (18 percent) of couples in the United States had a destination wedding in 2024, according to a survey of 17,000 couples in the country who got married last year conducted by The Knot, the wedding planning website.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
Preposition
The two areas with the least enthusiasm for tree planting last year were Long Island (where just under 670 were planted) and New York City (with only 37 new tree plantings recorded).
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Last school year, just under 82 percent of kindergarteners in Gaines County were vaccinated against measles.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
In Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, rescuers detected signs of life on Thursday at a site where dozens are feared trapped under the rubble following the collapse of an under-construction high-rise building that killed at least 15 people.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
Two stars on the under, but prop players remember: Emeka Egbuka (+155 for a touchdown) gets the ball in big spots for Ohio State.
—Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for under
Cite this Entry
“Under.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
under
1 of 3 adverb
un·der
ˈən-dər 
1
: in or into a position below or beneath something
the duck surfaced, then went under again
2
: below some quantity, level, or average
ten dollars or under
—often used in combinationunderplayed the part
3
: in or into a losing, lower, or unconscious state or condition
kept my disappointment under
put the patient under for surgery
4
: so as to be covered or hidden
turned under by the plow
under
2 of 3 preposition
un·der
ˌən-dər,
ˈən-
1
: below or beneath and topped or sheltered by
under sunny skies
under a tree
wearing a sweater under my jacket
2
a
: bound by the authority or guidance of
served under the general
b
: affected or influenced by the action or result of
the disease is under treatment
3
: within the group or division of
under this heading
4
a
: less or lower than (as in size, amount, or rank)
all masses under 90 kilograms
nobody under a colonel
b
: below the required level of
under legal age
under
3 of 3 adjective
un·der
ˈən-dər
1
a
: lying or placed below
—often used in combination
the sea's undercurrents
the underside of a car
b
: facing or bulging downward
—often used in combination
the undersurface of a leaf
2
: lower in position or authority : subordinate
—often used in combination
the undersecretary of defense
3
: lower than usual, proper, or desired in amount or quality
—often used in combination
undernourished children
Medical Definition
under
1 of 3 adverb
un·der
ˈən-dər
: in or into a condition of unconsciousness
put the patient under prior to surgery
under
2 of 3 preposition
: receiving or using the action or application of
an operation performed under local anesthesia
under
3 of 3 adjective
: being in an induced state of unconsciousness
given intravenously when the patient is under—C. A. Birch
C. A. BirchLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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