Home / Dictionary / underground

underground

/ˈʌndəɡɹaʊnd/
noun
  1. An underground railway, especially for mass transit of people in urban areas.

  2. A train that runs on such an underground railway.

  3. A rapid transit system, regardless of the elevation of its right of way.

SynonymsMétro, metro, Tube, tube, rapid transit, underground
noun
  1. Regions beneath the surface of the earth, both natural (eg. caves) and man-made (eg. mines).

  2. (with definite article) A movement or organisation of people who resist political convention.

    "the French underground during World War II"

    Similar: resistance

  3. (with definite article) A movement or organisation of people who resist artistic convention.

    Similar: avant-garde, counterculture

Synonymsavant-garde, counterculture, resistance
verb
  1. To route electricity distribution cables underground

adjective
  1. Below the ground; below the surface of the Earth.

    "There is an underground tunnel that takes you across the river."

    Similar: hypogean, subterranean

  2. Hidden, furtive, secretive.

    "These criminals operate through an underground network."

  3. Outside the mainstream, especially unofficial and hidden from the authorities.

    "underground music"

    Similar: alternative, unconventional

Synonymsalternative, unconventional, hypogean, subterranean
Antonymsmainstream
adverb
  1. Below the ground.

    "The tunnel goes underground at this point."

    Similar: below ground

  2. Secretly.

    Similar: clandestinely, in secret, on the quiet

Synonymsbelow ground, clandestinely, in secret, on the quiet

Practice "underground" in context

WordNote uses spaced repetition across multiple quiz levels, from recognizing the meaning to recalling it in active practice.

Save to WordNote — it's free →

No credit card. No install required.

underground — meaning, definition & examples | WordNote | WordNote