underground
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underground¹
- /ˌʌn.dəˈɡɹaʊnd/ UK
- /ˌʊn.dɐˈɡɹʊnd/ Northumbria, UK
- /ˌʌn.dəɹˈɡɹaʊnd/ US
- /ˈʌn.də.ɡɹaʊnd/ UK, especially
- /ˈʌn.dəɹ.ɡɹaʊnd/ US, especially
Rhymes with -aʊnd
Where it comes from
From Middle English undergrounde (adverb), equivalent to under + ground or under- + ground. Compare Dutch ondergrond, ondergronds, German Untergrund, Danish undergrunds.
adjective more underground · most underground · under ground · under-ground
-
Below the ground; below the surface of the Earth.
There is an underground tunnel that takes you across the river.
Similar: subterranean, hypogean, belowground
-
Hidden, furtive, secretive.
These criminals operate through an underground network.
Similar: covered, concealed, dark, dern, hidden, invisible, inward, latent, nondisplayed, obfuscated, obfuscatory, obscure
-
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
Similar: alternative, unconventional · Opposite: mainstream
adverb more underground · most underground · under ground · under-ground
-
Below the ground.
The tunnel goes underground at this point.
Similar: belowground
-
Secretly.
Similar: clandestinely, in secret, on the quiet
noun undergrounds · under ground · under-ground
- The regions beneath the surface of the earth, both natural (eg. caves) and man-made (eg. mines).
-
Synonym of subway: a railway that is under the ground.
London Underground
Similar: underground railway, subway
-
A movement or organization of people who resist political convention.
the French underground during World War II
Similar: resistance
-
A movement or organization of people who resist artistic convention.
Similar: avant-garde, counterculture
verb undergrounds · undergrounding · undergrounded · under ground · under-ground
- To route electricity distribution cables underground. One is to underground where no other alternative will work, and this method should be used universally in urban regions as it now is in “downtown” sections.
underground²
- /ˌʌn.dəˈɡɹaʊnd/ UK
- /ˌʊn.dɐˈɡɹʊnd/ Northumbria, UK
- /ˌʌn.dəɹˈɡɹaʊnd/ US
Rhymes with -aʊnd
Where it comes from
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
verb
- simple past and past participle of undergrind
Underground³
proper noun the Underground
-
The London Underground.
Although some of the stations on ' The Branch ' have not, as yet, suffered any considerable structural alterations, all are now equipped with the familiar Underground type name boards, and as a result the imposing titles of G.N. days have been ruthlessly curtailed.
Similar: Tube
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: belowground, subsurface, metro, subway, tube, guerilla, guerrilla, covert, undercover, cloak-and-dagger, hugger-mugger, surreptitious, hole-and-corner, clandestine, hush-hush, secret
Translations
Every language
adj below the ground — see also subterranean
| Español | subterráneo, soterraño, soterráneo (disused), soterrano |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 땅속 ttangsok, 땅굴 ttanggul, 땅밑 ttangmit, 땅아래 ttang'arae, 지하 jiha |
| 日本語 | 地下 chika |
| 中文 | 地下 dìxià |
| हिन्दी | भूमिगत bhūmigat, अंतर्भौम antarbhaum, ज़मींदोज़ zamīndoz, भूगर्भस्थ bhūgarbhasth, भूगर्भिक bhūgarbhik |
| Português | subterrâneo |
| Français | souterrain |
| Deutsch | unterirdisch, Untegrund- |
| Italiano | sotterraneo |
| Ελληνικά | υπόγειος ypógeios |
| Română | subteran |
| Русский | подзе́мный podzémnyj |
adj hidden, furtive
| 日本語 | 秘密の himitsu no, 不法の fuhō no, アングラ angura |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 地下的 dìxià de, 秘密的 mìmì de, 暗中的 ànzhōng de |
| Português | clandestino, secreto |
| Français | souterrain, clandestin |
| Deutsch | heimlich, geheim, Untergrund- |
| Italiano | clandestino |
| Ελληνικά | υπόγειος ypógeios, μυστικός mystikós, λαθραίος lathraíos |
| Русский | подпо́льный podpólʹnyj |
| עברית | מַחְתַּרְתִּי maẖtartí |
adj outside the mainstream
| 日本語 | アングラ angura |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 非主流 fēi zhǔliú |
| Português | underground, alternativo |
| Français | underground, alternatif |
| Deutsch | Untegrund- |
| Ελληνικά | υπόγειος ypógeios, περιθωριακός perithoriakós |
| Русский | андергра́унд andɛrgráund, андегра́унд andɛgráund |
adv below the ground
| 中文 | 地下 dìxià |
|---|---|
| Português | debaixo da terra, debaixo do solo |
| Français | sous terre, sous la terre |
| Deutsch | unter der Erde, unterirdisch |
| Italiano | sottoterra |
| Ελληνικά | υπόγεια ypógeia |
| Русский | под землёй pod zemljój |
noun movement or organisation of people who resist political convention
| Español | movimiento clandestino, organización clandestina |
|---|---|
| Português | resistência |
| Français | résistance, mouvement clandestin, organisation clandestine |
| Deutsch | Untergrundorganisation |
| Italiano | resistenza, movimento clandestino, organizzazione clandestina |
| Română | mișcare clandestină, organizație clandestină |
| Русский | подпо́лье podpólʹje |
| עברית | מַחְתֶּרֶת maẖtéret |
noun regions beneath the surface of the earth
| Español | subsuelo |
|---|---|
| हिन्दी | भूगर्भ bhūgarbh, अंतर्भूमि antarbhūmi, भूमिगत bhūmigat |
| Português | subsolo, subterrâneo |
noun movement or organisation of people who resist artistic convention
| Português | submundo |
|---|---|
| Français | underground, mouvement d'avant-garde |
| Deutsch | Underground |
| Italiano | underground |
| Русский | андергра́унд andɛrgráund, андегра́унд andɛgráund |
verb to route electricity distribution cables underground
| Ελληνικά | υπογειώνω ypogeióno |
|---|
Talk about this word "underground." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/underground. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. underground. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/underground "underground." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/underground.Cite this
@misc{underground_2026,
title = {underground},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/underground},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
