underground
gb/ˈʌndɚɡɹˌaʊnd/ us/ˈʌndɚɡɹˌaʊnd/
A2
English
~ 4300
metró, földalatti, föld alatti, felszín alatti, földalatti mozgalom, ellenállás, titkos, nem hivatalos, underground
NOUN
A2
1
metró
A1
földalatti
B1
Usage pattern:
to take the underground to [a place]
The underground is the fastest way to get across London.
Londonban a metró a leggyorsabb módja annak, hogy átjussunk a városon.
She takes the underground to work every morning.
Minden reggel metróval jár dolgozni.
The city has expanded its underground to reach the suburbs.
Tourists often find the underground confusing at first.
Learner examples
I go to school by underground.
Metróval járok iskolába.
The underground is very busy in the morning.
Reggel nagyon zsúfolt a metró.
We took the underground to the museum.
He works near an underground station.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'underground' (UK English) with 'subway' (US English), which in US can also mean an underground walkway or passage.
Meaning
a subway train network
Collocations
take the underground
|underground station
|underground network
|underground map
Synonyms
subway (Commonly used in American English for the same concept.)
|
metro (Used in many countries, especially in Europe, for an underground train system.)
Antonyms
overground train (A train that runs on tracks above the surface.)
Themes
transportation
|city life
|travel
Definition
A system of trains that run in tunnels under a city.
A public transportation system of trains operating in tunnels beneath the surface of a city.
B1
2
föld alatti
B1
They built an underground garage for the apartment complex.
Mélygarázst építettek a lakókomplexumhoz.
The underground pipes need repair.
A föld alatti csövek javításra szorulnak.
The miners work in underground shafts.
Learner examples
We walked through an underground tunnel.
Átsétáltunk egy föld alatti alagúton.
There is an underground car park here.
Van itt egy mélygarázs.
The shop has an underground storeroom.
Meaning
below the earth's surface
Collocations
underground tunnel
|underground parking
|underground cable
Synonyms
subterranean (A more formal or technical word for 'underground'.)
Antonyms
aboveground (Situated or occurring on or above the earth's surface.)
Themes
geography
|construction
|space
|nature
Definition
Located or happening under the ground.
Situated, occurring, or operating beneath the ground level.
NOUN
B2
3
During the war, he joined the underground to fight the occupation.
A háború alatt csatlakozott az ellenálláshoz, hogy harcoljon a megszállás ellen.
The underground distributed banned newspapers.
A földalatti mozgalom betiltott újságokat terjesztett.
Many members of the underground were arrested by the regime.
Learner examples
She was part of an underground group.
Egy földalatti csoport tagja volt.
The underground helped people escape.
Az ellenállás segített az embereknek elmenekülni.
They hid with help from the underground.
Meaning
secret resistance group
Collocations
join the underground
|underground movement
|underground network
Synonyms
resistance (Often used for organized opposition during wartime or occupation.)
|
clandestine group (Emphasizes secrecy and hidden operations.)
Antonyms
official organization (An open, legally recognized group operating under public authority.)
Themes
politics
|history
|law
Definition
A secret group that works against people in power.
A covert organization or movement that operates in secrecy, often to oppose a government or authority.
B2
4
They attended an underground music festival in a warehouse.
Részt vettek egy underground zenei fesztiválon egy raktárépületben.
The film became popular through underground screenings.
A film titkos, nem hivatalos vetítések révén vált népszerűvé.
There's an underground market for rare books.
Learner examples
He likes underground music.
Szereti az underground zenét.
They went to an underground party.
Elmentek egy titkos buliba.
The shop sells underground comics.
Meaning
secret and hidden from public view
Collocations
underground club
|underground art scene
|underground economy
Synonyms
covert (Focuses on being deliberately concealed.)
|
hidden (General term for not visible or known.)
Antonyms
mainstream (Openly accepted by the majority of society.)
Themes
culture
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Secret and not known by many people, sometimes illegal.
Conducted in secrecy, not openly acknowledged, often because it is illegal or unconventional.
Grammar
Dictionary form
underground
IPA
GB/ˈʌndɚɡɹˌaʊnd/
US/ˈʌndɚɡɹˌaʊnd/
Syllables & stress
un - der - ground (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (un)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: underground
Noun
- Base: underground
- Plural: underground, undergrounds
Word family
Forms
undergrounds
noun
Core family
ground
noun A1
Negative and opposite forms
aboveground
adjective
Expressions
go underground
1/ɡˈoʊ ˈʌndɚɡɹˌaʊnd/
idiom
hide to avoid detection
To hide or work secretly so people cannot find you.
Examples
- After the scandal, he went underground to avoid reporters.
- The group went underground after being declared illegal.
underground economy
1/ˈʌndɚɡɹˌaʊnd ɪkˈɑnəmi/
fixed phrase
hidden or illegal economic activity
Business activities that are not reported to the government and are often illegal.
Examples
- The government is trying to crack down on the underground economy.
- Many workers in the underground economy are paid in cash.
underground movement
1/ˈʌndɚɡɹˌaʊnd mˈuvmənt/
fixed phrase
secret opposition group or trend
A secret group that works against those in power or against normal ways of doing things.
Examples
- The novel was inspired by an underground movement in the 1970s.
- An underground movement is gaining support among young people.