under
♦♦♦ un|der /'ʌndər/
In addition to the uses shown below, under is also used in phrasal verbs such as `go under' and `knuckle under'.
1 [PREP]
If a person or thing is under something, they are at a lower level than that thing, and may be covered or hidden by it.
...swimming in the pool or lying under an umbrella...
Under a wide shelf that holds coffee jars stands a pile of magazines...
She buried her head under the covers, pretending to be asleep...
A path runs under the trees.
2 [PREP]
In a place such as a sea, river, or swimming pool, if someone or something is under the water, they are fully in the water and covered by it.
They said he'd been held under the water and drowned...
Goldfish were swimming lazily in a group just under the surface.
[ADV] ADV after v
Under is also an adverb.
When the water was up to his neck, a hand came from behind and pushed his head under.
3 [PREP]
If you go under something, you move from one side to the other of something that is at a higher level than you.
He went under a brick arch...
A river boat passed under the bridge.
4 [PREP]
Something that is under a layer of something, especially clothing, is covered by that layer.
I was wearing two sweaters under the green army jacket...
It was hard to see the colours under the layer of dust.
5 [PREP]
You can use under before a noun to indicate that a person or thing is being affected by something or is going through a particular process.
...fishermen whose livelihoods are under threat...
I'm rarely under pressure and my co-workers are always nice to me...
Firemen said they had the blaze under control...
He was rushed to court yesterday under armed guard.
6 [PREP]
If something happens under particular circumstances or conditions, it happens when those circumstances or conditions exist.
His best friend was killed by police under extremely questionable circumstances...
Under normal conditions, only about 20 to 40 per cent of vitamin E is absorbed...
7 [PREP]
If something happens under a law, agreement, or system, it happens because that law, agreement, or system says that it should happen.
Under law, your employer has the right to hire a temporary worker to replace you...
Under the Constitution, you cannot be tried twice for the same crime.
8 [PREP]
If something happens under a particular person or government, it happens when that person or government is in power.
There would be no new taxes under his leadership.
...the realities of life under a brutal dictatorship...
9 [PREP]
If you study or work under a particular person, that person teaches you or tells you what to do.
Kiefer was just one of the artists who had studied under Beuys in the early Sixties...
I am the new manager and you will be working under me.
10 [PREP]
If you do something under a particular name, you use that name instead of your real name.
Were any of your books published under the name Amanda Fairchild?...
The patient was registered under a false name.
11 [PREP]
You use under to say which section of a list, book, or system something is in.
This study is described under `General Diseases of the Eye'...
`Where would it be?'--`Filed under C, second drawer down.'
12 [PREP] PREP amount
If something or someone is under a particular age or amount, they are less than that age or amount.
...jobs for those under 65...
Expenditure this year should be just under 15 billion pounds.
≠ over
[ADV] amount and ADV
Under is also an adverb.
...free childminding service for 5's and under.
13
under wraps: see wrapcome under
1 [PHRASAL VERB] no passive, V P n
If you come under attack or pressure, for example, people attack you or put pressure on you.
His relationship with the KGB came under scrutiny.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] no passive, V P n
If something comes under a particular authority, it is managed or controlled by that authority.
They were neglected before because they did not come under the Ministry of Defence.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] no passive, V P n
If something comes under a particular heading, it is in the category mentioned.
There was more news about Britain, but it came under the heading of human interest.down un|der
[PHRASE] prep PHR, PHR after v
People sometimes refer to Australia and New Zealand as down under. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL)
For summer skiing down under, there is no better place than New Zealand.go under
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If a business or project goes under, it becomes unable to continue in operation or in existence. (BUSINESS)
If one firm goes under it could provoke a cascade of bankruptcies.
= collapse
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If a boat, ship, or person in a sea or river goes under, they sink below the surface of the water.
The ship went under, taking with her all her crew.
= sinkknuckle under
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n
If you knuckle under, you do what someone else tells you to do or what a situation forces you to do, because you realize that you have no choice. (INFORMAL)
It is arguable whether the rebels will knuckle under...
The United States, he said, did not knuckle under to demands.
= give in, buckle undersnowed un|der
[ADJ] v-link ADJ, usu ADJ with n
If you say that you are snowed under, you are emphasizing that you have a lot of work or other things to deal with. (INFORMAL)
Ed was snowed under with fan mail when he was doing his television show.un|der age
also underage
1 [ADJ]
A person who is under age is legally too young to do something, for example to drink alcohol, have sex, or vote.
Underage youths can obtain alcohol from their older friends.
...girls who have babies when they are under age.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
Under age activities such as drinking or smoking are carried out by people who are legally too young to do them.
...his efforts to stop under age drinking and drug abuse.un|der way
also underway
[ADJ] v-link ADJ
If an activity is under way, it has already started. If an activity gets under way, it starts.
An investigation is underway to find out how the disaster happened...
The conference gets under way later today with a debate on the family.
In addition to the uses shown below, under is also used in phrasal verbs such as `go under' and `knuckle under'.
1 [PREP]
If a person or thing is under something, they are at a lower level than that thing, and may be covered or hidden by it.
...swimming in the pool or lying under an umbrella...
Under a wide shelf that holds coffee jars stands a pile of magazines...
She buried her head under the covers, pretending to be asleep...
A path runs under the trees.
2 [PREP]
In a place such as a sea, river, or swimming pool, if someone or something is under the water, they are fully in the water and covered by it.
They said he'd been held under the water and drowned...
Goldfish were swimming lazily in a group just under the surface.
[ADV] ADV after v
Under is also an adverb.
When the water was up to his neck, a hand came from behind and pushed his head under.
3 [PREP]
If you go under something, you move from one side to the other of something that is at a higher level than you.
He went under a brick arch...
A river boat passed under the bridge.
4 [PREP]
Something that is under a layer of something, especially clothing, is covered by that layer.
I was wearing two sweaters under the green army jacket...
It was hard to see the colours under the layer of dust.
5 [PREP]
You can use under before a noun to indicate that a person or thing is being affected by something or is going through a particular process.
...fishermen whose livelihoods are under threat...
I'm rarely under pressure and my co-workers are always nice to me...
Firemen said they had the blaze under control...
He was rushed to court yesterday under armed guard.
6 [PREP]
If something happens under particular circumstances or conditions, it happens when those circumstances or conditions exist.
His best friend was killed by police under extremely questionable circumstances...
Under normal conditions, only about 20 to 40 per cent of vitamin E is absorbed...
7 [PREP]
If something happens under a law, agreement, or system, it happens because that law, agreement, or system says that it should happen.
Under law, your employer has the right to hire a temporary worker to replace you...
Under the Constitution, you cannot be tried twice for the same crime.
8 [PREP]
If something happens under a particular person or government, it happens when that person or government is in power.
There would be no new taxes under his leadership.
...the realities of life under a brutal dictatorship...
9 [PREP]
If you study or work under a particular person, that person teaches you or tells you what to do.
Kiefer was just one of the artists who had studied under Beuys in the early Sixties...
I am the new manager and you will be working under me.
10 [PREP]
If you do something under a particular name, you use that name instead of your real name.
Were any of your books published under the name Amanda Fairchild?...
The patient was registered under a false name.
11 [PREP]
You use under to say which section of a list, book, or system something is in.
This study is described under `General Diseases of the Eye'...
`Where would it be?'--`Filed under C, second drawer down.'
12 [PREP] PREP amount
If something or someone is under a particular age or amount, they are less than that age or amount.
...jobs for those under 65...
Expenditure this year should be just under 15 billion pounds.
≠ over
[ADV] amount and ADV
Under is also an adverb.
...free childminding service for 5's and under.
13
under wraps: see wrapcome under
1 [PHRASAL VERB] no passive, V P n
If you come under attack or pressure, for example, people attack you or put pressure on you.
His relationship with the KGB came under scrutiny.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] no passive, V P n
If something comes under a particular authority, it is managed or controlled by that authority.
They were neglected before because they did not come under the Ministry of Defence.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] no passive, V P n
If something comes under a particular heading, it is in the category mentioned.
There was more news about Britain, but it came under the heading of human interest.down un|der
[PHRASE] prep PHR, PHR after v
People sometimes refer to Australia and New Zealand as down under. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL)
For summer skiing down under, there is no better place than New Zealand.go under
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If a business or project goes under, it becomes unable to continue in operation or in existence. (BUSINESS)
If one firm goes under it could provoke a cascade of bankruptcies.
= collapse
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If a boat, ship, or person in a sea or river goes under, they sink below the surface of the water.
The ship went under, taking with her all her crew.
= sinkknuckle under
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n
If you knuckle under, you do what someone else tells you to do or what a situation forces you to do, because you realize that you have no choice. (INFORMAL)
It is arguable whether the rebels will knuckle under...
The United States, he said, did not knuckle under to demands.
= give in, buckle undersnowed un|der
[ADJ] v-link ADJ, usu ADJ with n
If you say that you are snowed under, you are emphasizing that you have a lot of work or other things to deal with. (INFORMAL)
Ed was snowed under with fan mail when he was doing his television show.un|der age
also underage
1 [ADJ]
A person who is under age is legally too young to do something, for example to drink alcohol, have sex, or vote.
Underage youths can obtain alcohol from their older friends.
...girls who have babies when they are under age.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
Under age activities such as drinking or smoking are carried out by people who are legally too young to do them.
...his efforts to stop under age drinking and drug abuse.un|der way
also underway
[ADJ] v-link ADJ
If an activity is under way, it has already started. If an activity gets under way, it starts.
An investigation is underway to find out how the disaster happened...
The conference gets under way later today with a debate on the family.