subterranean
adjective
sub·ter·ra·nean
ˌsəb-tə-ˈrā-nē-ən 
-nyən
variants
or less commonly subterraneous
ˌsəb-tə-ˈrā-nē-əs
-nyəs
1
: being, lying, or operating under the surface of the earth
2
: existing or working in secret : hidden
a subterranean network of criminals
subterraneanly
adverb
or less commonly subterraneously
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Go Underground With Subterranean
A tunnel is a subterranean road or pathway, and a subway is a subterranean railway. The subterranean vaults at Fort Knox hold billions of dollars of gold reserves. Subterranean reservoirs called aquifers are tapped for water; in places where the pressure on the subterranean water is great enough, a hole drilled in the ground will bring it bubbling to the surface.
Examples of subterranean in a Sentence
a subterranean bunker that supposedly could withstand even an atomic blast
Recent Examples on the Web
Activities and Amenities One Aldwych has a range of nice amenities, but one of the standouts has to be its chlorine-free, subterranean swimming pool in the wellness center, which was one of my favorite places to unwind after a day of exploring.
—
Samantha Brash, Travel + Leisure, 24 Aug. 2025
Fires, tunnel collapses, undetected gas The subterranean fires are just one of the obstacles facing Siyabonga and his colleagues.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
The south tower with the hotel will also have commercial space for a restaurant, coffee shop and retail, as well as a subterranean black-box entertainment venue seating between 1,200 and 1,300 people.
—Sydney Franklin, The Enquirer, 4 July 2025
The story took an unexpected twist in 2011, when police discovered a network of subterranean shipping containers at the landfill being used to grow cannabis.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subterranean
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Samantha Brash, Travel + Leisure, 24 Aug. 2025
Fires, tunnel collapses, undetected gas The subterranean fires are just one of the obstacles facing Siyabonga and his colleagues.
—Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
The south tower with the hotel will also have commercial space for a restaurant, coffee shop and retail, as well as a subterranean black-box entertainment venue seating between 1,200 and 1,300 people.
—Sydney Franklin, The Enquirer, 4 July 2025
The story took an unexpected twist in 2011, when police discovered a network of subterranean shipping containers at the landfill being used to grow cannabis.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subterranean
Cite this Entry
“Subterranean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subterranean. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
subterranean
adjective
sub·ter·ra·nean
ˌsəb-tə-ˈrā-nē-ən
-nyən
1
: being, lying, or operating under the surface of the earth
2
: existing or working in secret : hidden
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