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Added 4 October 2026

underground

/ˌʌn.dəˈɡɹaʊnd/ adjective

Categories: Describing WordsEveryday Words

In Latin: subterrāneus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about underground at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Below the ground; below the surface of the Earth.
    There is an underground tunnel that takes you across the river.
  2. Hidden, furtive, secretive.
    These criminals operate through an underground network.
  3. Of or relating to an art forms (such as music) or subculture that is outside the mainstream, especially one that is unofficial and hidden from the authorities.
    underground music

adverb

  1. Below the ground.
    The tunnel goes underground at this point.
  2. Secretly.

noun

  1. The regions beneath the surface of the earth, both natural (eg. caves) and man-made (eg. mines).
  2. Synonym of subway: a railway that is under the ground.
    London Underground
  3. A movement or organization of people who resist political convention.
    the French underground during World War II

verb

  1. To route electricity distribution cables underground.

Origin

From Middle English undergrounde (adverb), equivalent to under + ground or under- + ground. Compare Dutch ondergrond, ondergronds, German Untergrund, Danish undergrunds.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: belowgroundsubsurfacemetrosubwaytubeguerillaguerrillacovertundercovercloak-and-daggerhugger-muggersurreptitious

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