Preposition ˈʌndə(R ˈʌndər Looked Bed Ladder Lower Window

• have you looked under the bed?
• she placed the ladder under (= just lower than) the window.
• the dog squeezed under the gate and ran into the road.
• the boat lay under several feet of water.

under

1. in, to or through a position that is below something
• Have you looked under the bed?
• She placed the ladder under (= just lower than) the window.
• The dog squeezed under the gate and ran into the road.
2. below the surface of something; covered by something
• The boat lay under several feet of water.
3. less than; younger than
• an annual income of under £10 000
• It took us under an hour.
• I'm actually in the film for just under two minutes.
• Nobody under 18 is allowed to buy alcohol.
4. affected by something
• The wall collapsed under the strain.
• I've been feeling under stress lately.
• I'm under no illusions about what hard work this will be.
• You'll be under anaesthetic, so you won't feel a thing.
5. used to say who or what controls, governs or manages somebody/something
• The country is now under martial law.
• The coinage was reformed under Elizabeth I (= when she was queen).
• She has a staff of 19 working under her.
• Under its new conductor, the orchestra has established an international reputation.
6. according to an agreement, a law or a system
• A man was detained under the Mental Health Act.
• Under the terms of the lease you had no right to sublet the property.
• Is the television still under guarantee?
7. experiencing a particular process
• The hotel is still under construction.
• The matter is under investigation.
8. using a particular name
• She also wrote under the pseudonym of Barbara Vine.
9. found in a particular part of a book, list, etc.
• If it's not under ‘sports’, try looking under ‘games’.

Word Origin

• Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch onder and German unter.