underwater
gb/ˈʌndɚwˌɔtɚ/ us/ˈʌndɚwˌɔtɚ/
A2
English
~ 9300
víz alatti, víz alatt, víz alá, alulfedezett, a tartozás meghaladja a fedezet értékét, el van havazva, el van úszva
A2
1
víz alatti
A2
Usage pattern:
[something] is underwater
The divers explored an underwater cave near the island.
A búvárok egy víz alatti barlangot jártak be a sziget közelében.
We used an underwater camera to photograph the coral reef.
Víz alatti kamerával fényképeztük a korallzátonyt.
The explosion damaged several underwater cables.
The scientists built an underwater research station on the ocean floor.
He works as an underwater welder on offshore oil rigs.
Learner examples
The children saw many fish in the underwater tunnel at the aquarium.
A gyerekek sok halat láttak az akvárium víz alatti alagútjában.
We watched an underwater movie about sharks.
Megnéztünk egy cápákról szóló víz alatti filmet.
There is a small underwater bridge at the bottom of the lake.
She wants to try underwater photography on her next trip.
The team found an underwater ship near the coast.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"in the underwater world"* when they simply mean *"underwater"*. Use *"underwater"* before a noun (e.g., *underwater world, underwater camera*) or after *be* (e.g., *The cave is underwater*), and use *"under the water"* mainly for specific locations (e.g., *The toy is under the water in the bathtub*).
Meaning
Located or happening below water
Collocations
underwater camera
|underwater cave
|underwater world
|underwater life
|underwater filming
|underwater explosion
Synonyms
submerged (Often suggests something is fully covered by water, sometimes accidentally or unusually.)
|
subaquatic (More formal and technical; commonly used in scientific contexts.)
Antonyms
above water (Describes something that is not covered by water and remains in the air.)
Themes
nature
|travel
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Below the top of the water; happening or being under the water.
Situated, existing, used, or taking place below the surface of water.
A2
2
Usage pattern:
to [verb] underwater
She can swim underwater for more than a minute without taking a breath.
Több mint egy percig tud víz alatt úszni anélkül, hogy levegőt venne.
The frog disappeared underwater when it saw us coming.
A béka a víz alá merült, amikor meglátta, hogy közeledünk.
We practiced talking with simple hand signals so we could communicate underwater.
The diver slowly moved underwater along the rocky wall.
Tiny bubbles formed and floated up as the metal reacted underwater.
Learner examples
The boy likes to swim underwater in the pool.
A fiú szeret víz alatt úszni a medencében.
Fish can live and move underwater all the time.
A halak állandóan víz alatt tudnak élni és mozogni.
He dropped his watch, and it sank underwater.
They held hands and walked underwater in the shallow sea.
I opened my eyes underwater and it was blurry.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse *"underwater"* (adverb) with *"under the water"*. Both can be correct, but *"swim underwater"* is more natural than *"swim under the water"* in general statements.
Meaning
Below the surface of water
Collocations
swim underwater
|breathe underwater
|see underwater
|walk underwater
|hide underwater
|stay underwater
Synonyms
below the surface (General phrase; not limited to water but often used with it.)
Antonyms
above water (Describes being out of or not covered by water.)
Themes
nature
|sports
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Under the surface of the water.
Below the surface of water; beneath the water.
C1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
[loan/mortgage/investment] is underwater
Many homeowners found their mortgages underwater after housing prices fell.
Sok lakástulajdonos az ingatlanárak esése után azzal szembesült, hogy a jelzáloghitel-tartozásuk meghaladja az ingatlanuk piaci értékét.
The car loan is underwater, so selling the vehicle will not cover the debt.
Az autóhitel-tartozás nagyobb, mint az autó értéke, ezért a jármű eladása nem fedezi a tartozást.
The company is still underwater on that investment, even after the market recovery.
By 2010, a large percentage of properties in the region were deeply underwater.
He decided to keep the house because it was underwater and too costly to sell.
Learner examples
Their house is underwater because the value went down.
A házukon több a tartozás, mint amennyit ér, mert csökkent az értéke.
She cannot sell her car easily because the loan is underwater.
Nem tudja könnyen eladni az autóját, mert a hiteltartozás nagyobb, mint az autó értéke.
After the crisis, many people were underwater on their homes.
The bank says my mortgage is underwater now.
They hope prices will rise so they are not underwater anymore.
Common mistake:
Learners often think this meaning is literal and imagine a house or car physically under water. In finance, *underwater* means the debt is higher than the value. It is not about real water. Do not say *"the house is in underwater"*; say *"the house is underwater"* or *"the mortgage is underwater"*.
Meaning
Worth less than the debt owed
Collocations
underwater mortgage
|underwater loan
|underwater investment
|underwater homeowner
|deeply underwater
|slightly underwater
Synonyms
upside down (Informal finance slang, especially in American English, with the same basic meaning.)
|
in negative equity (More formal phrase, often used in news and financial reporting.)
Antonyms
in the black (General financial term meaning profitable or in a positive position, opposite of owing more than something is worth.)
Themes
business
|finance
|economics
Definition
Used when you owe more money on something, like a house or car, than it is worth now.
Describing an asset, especially a loan or mortgage, for which the amount owed is greater than the current market value of the asset.
B2
INFORMAL
4
el van úszva
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is underwater [with something]
I’m totally underwater at work this week and can’t take on any new projects.
Ezen a héten teljesen el vagyok havazva a munkával, és nem tudok új projekteket vállalni.
She’s been underwater with deadlines since the new manager arrived.
Amióta megérkezett az új vezető, teljesen el van úszva a határidőkkel.
We’re all a bit underwater after the product launch.
He looked underwater and exhausted after a week of late nights at the office.
Sorry I didn’t reply sooner; I’ve been underwater with emails.
Learner examples
I am underwater at work this month.
Ebben a hónapban teljesen el vagyok havazva a munkával.
She is underwater with school and her job.
Teljesen el van havazva az iskolával és a munkájával.
He feels underwater because he has so many emails.
We are underwater right now, so we cannot start a new project.
They were underwater all week before the big meeting.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this is literal and imagine someone under real water. In this informal use, *underwater* is about stress and too much work. Do not say *"I work in underwater"* when you mean *"I am underwater at work"* (very busy). Also, avoid adding *"with work"* twice, e.g., *"I am underwater with work at work"*; simply say *"I am underwater at work"* or *"I am underwater with work"*.
Meaning
Extremely busy or overwhelmed
Collocations
underwater at work
|completely underwater
|still underwater
|feel underwater
|underwater with emails
|underwater with deadlines
Synonyms
swamped (Very close in meaning, informal, often used only for having too much to do.)
|
overwhelmed (Slightly more formal and can refer to strong emotions as well as too much work.)
Antonyms
on top of things (Means being in control of your tasks and not behind or overwhelmed.)
Themes
work
|emotions
|daily life
Definition
Very busy and stressed because you have too much work or too many things to do.
Feeling or being extremely busy, overwhelmed, or behind, especially with work or responsibilities.
Grammar
Dictionary form
underwater
IPA
GB/ˈʌndɚwˌɔtɚ/
US/ˈʌndɚwˌɔtɚ/
Syllables & stress
un - der - wa - ter (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (un)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: underwater
Word family
Core family
water
noun A1
Related words
watery
adjective B1
waterproof
adjective B1
Negative and opposite forms
waterless
adjective
Advanced or less common
undersea
adjective B2
Expressions
be underwater at work
1/bˈi ˈʌndɚwˌɔtɚ ˈæt wˈɚk/
idiom
informal
Be extremely busy at work
To be very busy and stressed at your job because you have too much work and not enough time.
Examples
- I’ve been underwater at work lately, so I haven’t had time to call you.
- She’s underwater at work this quarter and is doing a lot of overtime.
- We’re all underwater at work until the big project is finished.
be underwater on something
1/bˈi ˈʌndɚwˌɔtɚ ˈɔn sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
Owe more than something is worth
To owe more money on something, like a house, car, or loan, than that thing is worth now.
Examples
- They’re still underwater on their mortgage, so selling the house would mean a loss.
- After prices fell, many car owners found that they were underwater on their loans.
- The company is underwater on that project and may never recover its costs.
underwater basket weaving
1/ˈʌndɚwˌɔtɚ bˈæskət wˈivɪŋ/
idiom
informal
Joke for a useless course
A humorous way to talk about a college class or subject that seems very easy or not useful.
Examples
- He joked that he was majoring in underwater basket weaving.
- The course was so simple that students called it underwater basket weaving.
- They laugh that her degree is in underwater basket weaving, but she actually worked very hard.
underwater mortgage
1/ˈʌndɚwˌɔtɚ mˈɔɹɡɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
technical
Mortgage bigger than home value
A home loan where you owe more money than the house is worth now.
Examples
- The government offered help to homeowners with underwater mortgages after the crisis.
- They are stuck with an underwater mortgage and cannot afford to move.
- Falling prices left thousands of families dealing with underwater mortgages.