under

underpreposition

Under puts one thing lower than another: directly below it, below a number, or below a person, rule, or force that controls or affects it.

1. belowdirectly below something, or covered by it

   • The cat is sleeping under the table.
   • She kept the letter under her pillow.
   • We sat under a tree.
   • He wore a sweater under his coat.

   Antonyms over

   Compare below; beneath

   1. abelow the surface of water or the ground

      • He swam under the water for a few seconds.
      • Pipes run under the street.

2. less thanless than an amount, age, or number

   • Children under five travel free.
   • It costs just under ten dollars.
   • The trip took under an hour.

   Collocations

   phrase just under, well under, under the age of

   Antonyms over

3. controlled bycontrolled, managed, or ruled by someone

   • She has twenty people working under her.
   • The team played much better under their new coach.
   • He studied under a well-known painter.

4. by a ruleas a law, an agreement, or a system says or allows

   • Under the new rules, all students must wear a uniform.
   • Under the agreement, the company will pay for repairs.

   Collocations

   phrase under the law, under the rules, under the agreement, under the terms of

5. being affectedbeing affected by an action, a process, or a force that has not yet ended

   • The new bridge is still under construction.
   • The matter is under discussion.
   • She works well under pressure.
   • The town came under attack during the night.

   Collocations

   phrase under construction, under discussion, under pressure, under attack, under control, under repair

6. name or groupusing a particular name, or placed in a particular group in a list or system

   • The table is booked under Omar's name.
   • She writes under a different name.
   • You'll find that book under history.

See also under (with no noun after it: The boat went under)