beneath

1 of 2

adverb

be·​neath bi-ˈnēth How to pronounce beneath (audio)
bē-
1
: in or to a lower position : below
the mountains and the towns beneath
2
: directly under : underneath
Look at the illustration and read what is beneath.

beneath

2 of 2

preposition

1
a
: in or to a lower position than : below
beneath the surface
b
: directly under
the ground beneath her feet
c
: at the foot of
a camp beneath a hill
2
: not suitable to the rank of : unworthy of
a job that is beneath his dignity
3
: under the control, pressure, or influence of
the chair sagged beneath his weight
4
: concealed by : under the guise of
a warm heart beneath a gruff manner

Examples of beneath in a Sentence

Adverb the mountains and the towns beneath the sky above and the earth beneath an awning with chairs and tables beneath The ground beneath is covered with flowers. Preposition the sky above us and the earth beneath us just beneath the surface of the water The painting is hanging on the wall with a plaque beneath it. We had a picnic beneath a large tree. The paper was hidden beneath a pile of books. She wore a sweater beneath her coat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
The feet-deep blanket of snow that used to cover the state has been replaced with a thin layer that barely covers the grass and dirt beneath. Helena Gunderson, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 Lidar emits laser pulses from an aircraft, allowing for images that penetrate vegetation and reveal the contours beneath. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Feb. 2025
Preposition
But beneath the rhetoric of cost-cutting and regulatory streamlining lies a troubling scenario. Allison Stanger, The Conversation, 7 Feb. 2025 Part of the patio sits beneath a large opening in the year for stargazing. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for beneath 

Word History

Etymology

Adverb and Preposition

Middle English benethe, from Old English beneothan, from be- + neothan below; akin to Old English nithera nether — more at nether

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of beneath was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near beneath

Cite this Entry

“Beneath.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beneath. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

beneath

1 of 2 adverb
be·​neath bi-ˈnēth How to pronounce beneath (audio)
: in or to a lower position : below

beneath

2 of 2 preposition
1
a
: lower than : below
b
: directly under
2
: not worthy of
work beneath your dignity

More from Merriam-Webster on beneath

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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