Preposition / Adverb A2 — Elementary /ˈʌn.də/

Under — Definition, Examples & Usage

Below, less than, controlled by, or in the process of — a small word with a lot of meanings.

Quick Definition

Under (preposition) — below or lower than something; less than a number or amount; governed or controlled by something; in the process of something happening.

Under (adverb) — in or to a lower position; beneath a surface.

What Does Under Mean?

Under comes from Old English under, related to Old High German untar and Gothic undar, and ultimately connected to the Latin root infra (below). It has been part of English since the earliest written records and is one of the most versatile prepositions in the language.

The core sense is spatial: under places something in a position below or directly beneath something else. From this physical meaning a wide range of abstract uses have developed. When we say someone is under pressure, we are metaphorically placing them beneath a weight. When a project is under construction, it is in a stage below completion. When a person acts under the law, they operate within a system that governs them from above.

Understanding these layers of meaning — physical, quantitative, authoritative, and processual — is the key to using under fluently and correctly in both spoken and written British English.

Example Sentences by CEFR Level

SentenceLevel & usage note
The dog is sleeping under the table. A2 — physical position below a surface
Children under ten can enter the museum for free. B1 — less than a quantity or age
The rules under the new marking scheme are slightly different from before. B1 — governed or defined by a system
The proposed bridge is currently under review by the planning committee. B2 — in the process of a formal action
Under the terms of the original agreement, neither party may withdraw without written notice. C1 — formal/legal: subject to the conditions of

Collocations

CollocationMeaning & example
under pressureexperiencing stress or difficulty — She works well under pressure.
under controlbeing managed successfully — The situation is now under control.
under constructionbeing built — The new hospital is under construction.
under reviewbeing formally examined — The policy is under review.
under arrestdetained by police — He was placed under arrest at the scene.
under the impressionbelieving something (often wrongly) — I was under the impression the meeting was cancelled.
under wayalready started; in progress — Preparations for the event are already under way.
under oathhaving sworn to tell the truth — The witness was under oath when she gave her statement.
under the circumstancesgiven the particular situation — Under the circumstances, we had no choice but to postpone.
under firebeing strongly criticised — The minister came under fire for his comments.

Usage Notes

How to Use Under Correctly

  • Physical position: Use under when something is directly below and often in contact with or covered by something: under the bed, under a blanket, under water.
  • Quantity: Under means less than a number or age and is interchangeable with below in most contexts, though under is more common in speech: under 30 minutes, under five pounds, under the age of 18.
  • Authority or system: Use under to show that something operates within a law, system, or person in charge: under the EU directive, under new management, under his supervision.
  • Process: The phrase under + noun frequently expresses ongoing processes: under construction, under discussion, under investigation, under consideration. These are common in formal and journalistic writing.
  • Adverbial use: Without a following noun, under describes movement or position below a surface: The submarine went under. She pulled the covers over her head and stayed under.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

The document is in under review.

The document is under review. (no article before review in this fixed phrase)

I was under the impression that it was cancelled, wasn't I?

I was under the impression that it had been cancelled. (use past perfect after this phrase to match the time frame)

Children under of ten eat free.

Children under ten eat free. (under is followed directly by the number, not a preposition)

Etymology Note

Old English under (preposition and adverb) derives from Proto-Germanic *under-, related to Old Norse undir, Old Saxon undar, and Gothic undar. The Indo-European root *ndher- also produced Latin infra (below, beneath) and Sanskrit adhaḥ (below). In Old English the word could mean "among" as well as "below"; the "among" sense has since been lost in standard British English. The prefix under- remains extremely productive today, forming words such as undermine, undertake, underestimate, and understand.

Related Words

underneath below beneath undermine undertake underestimate undergo underline understand over above

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “under”

What does under mean?
Under has several related meanings. As a preposition it means (1) physically below something: 'the cat sat under the table'; (2) less than a number or age: 'children under twelve'; (3) controlled or governed by: 'under the new law'; (4) in the process of: 'under construction'. As an adverb it means in or to a lower position: 'the submarine went under'.
What is the difference between under and below?
Under usually implies direct contact or vertical alignment — something is directly beneath. Below simply means at a lower level or position and does not require direct contact. We say 'under the bridge' (directly beneath it) but 'below the bridge' (at a lower point on the river). Under is also used idiomatically ('under pressure', 'under control') where below would be wrong.
What is the difference between under and underneath?
Underneath is more emphatic and usually implies something is hidden or covered. 'She hid the key underneath the mat' stresses that the key is concealed. Under is more neutral and widely used. In most everyday sentences, under and underneath are interchangeable, but underneath cannot replace under in abstract or idiomatic uses such as 'under pressure' or 'under the law'.
How do you use under as an adverb?
As an adverb, under means to go below a surface or to a lower position, without a following noun. Examples: 'The diver went under.' 'He pulled the duvet over his head and stayed under.' It also appears in phrasal verbs such as go under (a business failing) and knuckle under (to submit to pressure).
What are common collocations with under?
Frequent collocations include: under pressure, under control, under construction, under review, under the impression, under arrest, under way (also underway), under oath, under the circumstances, under consideration, and under fire. These are fixed or semi-fixed phrases that appear very often in written and spoken English.
Does under mean less than?
Yes. Under frequently means less than a specific number, amount, or age: 'The journey takes under an hour.' 'Admission is free for children under five.' In this sense it is a close synonym of below, though under sounds slightly more informal and is more common in spoken British English.
What does under the circumstances mean?
Under the circumstances means given the particular situation that exists, especially a difficult or unusual one: 'Under the circumstances, we decided to postpone the meeting.' It acknowledges that a decision or action is influenced by a specific context. Note that the expression is almost always plural: under the circumstances, not 'under the circumstance'.
What is the origin of the word under?
Under comes from Old English 'under', which is related to Old Norse 'undir', Gothic 'undar', and Latin 'infra' (below). It has been part of the English language since its earliest recorded period. In Old English it could mean both 'below' and 'among', though the 'among' sense has largely disappeared in modern usage.
What words are formed with under- as a prefix?
Under- is an extremely productive prefix in English. Common examples include: undermine (to weaken), underestimate (to judge as less than actual), undergo (to experience), underline (to draw a line beneath; to emphasise), underperform (to do less well than expected), underpay (to pay too little), undertake (to agree to do something), and understand (originally meaning to stand in the middle of something).
How can I practise using under in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise under in context, or use the Flash Cards tool to reinforce prepositions and common collocations. Listening to authentic British English podcasts and noting how under is used idiomatically — under pressure, under way, under arrest — is an especially effective method for intermediate and advanced learners.