Advertisement

View synonyms for

underground

[ adverb uhn-der-ground; adjective noun verb uhn-der-ground ]

adverb

  1. beneath the surface of the ground: ground:

    traveling underground by subway.

  2. in concealment or secrecy; not openly:

    subversion carried on underground.



adjective

  1. existing, situated, operating, or taking place beneath the surface of the ground. ground.
  2. used, or for use, underground.
  3. hidden or secret; not open:

    underground political activities.

  4. published or produced by political or social radicals or nonconformists:

    an underground newspaper.

  5. avant-garde; experimental:

    an underground movie.

  6. critical of or attacking the established society or system:

    underground opinion.

  7. of or for nonconformists; unusual:

    an underground vegetarian restaurant.

noun

  1. the place or region beneath the surface of the ground. ground.
  2. an underground space or passage.
  3. a secret organization fighting the established government or occupation forces:

    He fought in the French underground during the Nazi occupation of France.

  4. (often initial capital letter) a movement or group existing outside the establishment and usually reflecting unorthodox, avant-garde, or radical views.
  5. Chiefly British. a subway system.

verb (used with object)

  1. to place beneath the surface of the ground: ground:

    to underground utility lines.

underground

adjective

  1. occurring, situated, or used below ground level

    an underground tunnel

    an underground explosion

  2. secret; hidden

    underground activities

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. going below ground level

    the tunnel led underground

  2. into hiding or secrecy

    the group was driven underground

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a space or region below ground level
    1. a movement dedicated to overthrowing a government or occupation forces, as in the European countries occupied by the German army in World War II
    2. ( as modifier )

      an underground group

  2. the underground
    an electric passenger railway operated in underground tunnels US and Canadian equivalentsubway
  3. usually preceded by the
    1. any avant-garde, experimental, or subversive movement in popular art, films, music, etc
    2. ( as modifier )

      underground music

      the underground press

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of underground1

First recorded in 1565–75; under- + ground 1
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"Activists are forced into a position where we have to go underground."

From

But now, with Israel once again attacking relentlessly, the same gunmen have retreated underground and Gaza's civilians have been plunged back into the misery of war.

From

“One of my hands was in punk rock, championing underground music that was on the fringe,” he says.

From

More entrances to the complex were created, including an underground portal to the 7th Street/Metro Center light-rail station.

From

Plans for trams and underground trains in Bristol - one of the largest cities in Europe not to have a mass transit system - fell apart last year amid political bickering.

From

Advertisement

Related Words

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


undergraduateunderground movie