noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈʌndəkʌɹ(ə)nt/
General-American:/ˈʌndɚˌkʌɹənt/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AH1 N D ER0 K ER2 AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A current of water which flows under the surface, and often in a different direction from surface currents.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A tendency of feeling or opinion that is concealed rather than exposed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Examples
The meeting was pervaded with an undercurrent of dread, as the managers tried not to admit that firings were looming.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: subcurrent, subtext
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To flow under some surface.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: also, figuratively, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
a subdued emotional quality underlying an utterance; implicit meaning
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: undertone
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: meaning, substance
5
noun
Meaning 5
a current below the surface of a fluid
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1én Proto-Indo-European *h1entér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dhí Proto-Indo-European *-ér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dhér Proto-Germanic *under Proto-West Germanic *undar Old English under- Middle English under- English under- Proto-Indo-European *ḱers- Proto-Indo-European *-éti Proto-Indo-European *ḱr̥séti Proto-Italic *korzō Latin currere Old French corre Old French curantbor. Middle English curraunt English current English undercurrent From under- + current.
Across languages
Translations
27 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
暗流
(ànliú)
— current of water which flows under the surface
Danish:
understrøm
— current of water which flows under the surface
Esperanto:
subfluo
— current of water which flows under the surface
French:
courant sous-marin
— current of water which flows under the surface
French:
sous-courant
— current of water which flows under the surface
German:
Unterströmung
— current of water which flows under the surface
Irish:
foshruth
— current of water which flows under the surface
Italian:
corrente sottomarina
— current of water which flows under the surface
Norwegian Bokmål:
understrøm
— current of water which flows under the surface
Portuguese:
corrente submarina
— current of water which flows under the surface
Romanian:
curent de adâncime
— current of water which flows under the surface
Romanian:
curent submarin
— current of water which flows under the surface
Russian:
подводное течение
(podvodnoje tečenije)
— current of water which flows under the surface
Serbo-Croatian:
дубока стру́ја
— current of water which flows under the surface
Serbo-Croatian:
duboka strúja
— current of water which flows under the surface
Spanish:
contracorriente
— current of water which flows under the surface
Spanish:
subcorriente
— current of water which flows under the surface
Spanish:
infracorriente
— current of water which flows under the surface
French:
courant sous-jacent
— tendency of feeling or opinion that is concealed
German:
Unterton
— tendency of feeling or opinion that is concealed
German:
Beigeschmack
— tendency of feeling or opinion that is concealed
Irish:
uisce faoi thalamh
— tendency of feeling or opinion that is concealed
Irish:
cogar mogar
— tendency of feeling or opinion that is concealed
Portuguese:
tendência
— tendency of feeling or opinion that is concealed
Portuguese:
fundo
— tendency of feeling or opinion that is concealed
Spanish:
trasfondo
— tendency of feeling or opinion that is concealed
Spanish:
corriente subyacente
— tendency of feeling or opinion that is concealed
