under
gb/ˈʌndɚ/ us/ˈʌndɚ/
A1
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
preposition
A1
relation
1
in a lower position
Lower than or covered by something.
Usage pattern:
under [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'under' with 'below'. 'Below' is often used for measurements or levels, while 'under' is for physical position or being covered by something.
Synonyms
beneath (Slightly more formal or literary, but same physical meaning.)
Antonyms
above (Indicates a higher position instead of a lower one.)
Collocations
under the table
|under the bed
|under the bridge
|under the surface
Themes
space
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The cat is hiding under the bed.
- We sat under the tree for shade.
- The boat passed under the bridge.
- She wore a sweater under her coat.
- The keys are under the newspaper.
Learner examples
- The ball is under the chair.
- He is under the blanket.
- The shoes are under the table.
- The dog sleeps under the tree.
preposition
B1
relation
2
affected by something
Being in a situation where something affects or controls you.
Usage pattern:
under [condition/influence]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'under' for all influences; in some cases 'because of' or 'due to' is more natural.
Synonyms
subject to (More formal; used in legal or official contexts.)
Antonyms
free from (Indicates not being affected or controlled by something.)
Collocations
under pressure
|under control
|under the law
|under orders
Themes
society
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company is under investigation.
- She worked well under pressure.
- The troops are under orders to remain still.
- We are under new management now.
- Under the law, you must pay taxes.
Learner examples
- He is under stress at work.
- The city is under new rules.
- She is under the teacher’s control.
- They are under attack.
preposition
A2
relation
3
less than a number/amount
Smaller in number, amount, or age than something.
Usage pattern:
under [number/amount/age]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'below' for amounts; 'below' is possible but less common for age and money.
Synonyms
less than (Direct numerical comparison; interchangeable in many cases.)
Antonyms
over (More than a certain number, amount, or age.)
Collocations
under 18
|under $10
|under 5 minutes
Themes
measurement
|statistics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Children under 12 get in free.
- The repairs cost under $100.
- It took under an hour to finish.
- There were under 50 people at the meeting.
Learner examples
- I am under 18 years old.
- This book is under $5.
- We waited under 10 minutes.
- The bag weighs under 2 kilos.
adverb
B1
relation
4
in a lower position/place
In a place lower than something else.
Synonyms
below (Often interchangeable in spatial contexts, but 'below' can be more formal.)
Antonyms
above (In a higher place instead of lower.)
Themes
space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He dived and swam under.
- The submarine disappeared under quickly.
- She looked under to see what was there.
Learner examples
- He went under to get the ring.
- The fish swam under quickly.
- Look under to find it.
adjective
B2
property
5
below standard level
Not as good, big, or strong as expected.
Synonyms
substandard (More formal; often used in official assessments.)
Antonyms
above average (Better than the normal standard.)
Collocations
under strength
|under par
Themes
evaluation
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- His performance was under par today.
- The team is under strength this season.
Learner examples
- The food was under par.
- Our team is under strength today.
Grammar
Dictionary form
under
IPA
GB/ˈʌndɚ/
US/ˈʌndɚ/
Syllables & stress
un - der (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (un)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: under
Word family
Core family
underneath
preposition, adverb A2
underline
verb A2
underwear
noun A2
underground
adjective, adverb A2
underwater
adjective, adverb A2
Related words
Advanced or less common
Expressions
come under fire
1/kˈʌm ˈʌndɚ fˈaɪɚ/
idiom
receive strong criticism
To be criticized strongly by many people.
Examples
- The minister came under fire for his comments.
- The company came under fire over its safety record.
go under
1/ɡˈoʊ ˈʌndɚ/
phrasal verb
fail financially and close (business)
When a business fails and stops working because it has no money.
Examples
- Many small shops went under during the recession.
- If we lose this client, we could go under.
under way
1/ˈʌndɚ wˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
started and continuing process
Already started and happening now.
Examples
- The project is now under way.
- Repairs are under way after the storm.
under control
1/ˈʌndɚ kəntɹˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
successfully managed situation
When a problem or situation is being managed well and is not getting worse.
Examples
- The police finally got the situation under control.
- The fire is now under control.
- The disease is now under control thanks to vaccination.
- Everything is finally under control after the chaos.
under pressure
1/ˈʌndɚ pɹˈɛʃɚ/
fixed phrase
Experiencing stress from demands
Feeling stress because you have to do something difficult or important.
Examples
- I work better when I'm under pressure.
- She’s under a lot of pressure before exams.
under pressure
2/ˈʌndɚ pɹˈɛʃɚ/
fixed phrase
experiencing stress or demands
In a situation where you feel stressed because of many demands or problems.
Examples
- She performs well under pressure.
- I'm really under pressure at work this week.