Standard Lemma guide

undertow

noun · verb · 7 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AH1 N D ER0 T OW2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A short-range flow of water returning seaward from the waves breaking on the shore.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • A strong undertow may sweep a returning swimmer off their feet but it does not carry them far from the shore.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A feeling that runs contrary to one's normal one.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To pull or tow under; drag beneath; pull down.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To pull down by, or as by, an undertow.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To flow or behave as an undertow.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

the seaward undercurrent created after waves have broken on the shore

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sea puss, sea-puss, sea purse, sea-purse, sea-poose

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: undertide, undercurrent

7

noun

Meaning 7

an inclination contrary to the strongest or prevailing feeling

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • his account had a poignant undertow of regret

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: inclination

History

Etymology

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- English tow English undertow From under- + tow.

Across languages

Translations

22 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: ressaca — flow of water
  • Chinese Mandarin: 退波 (tuìbō) — flow of water
  • Finnish: imu — flow of water
  • Finnish: aaltojen imu — flow of water
  • Finnish: paluuvirtaus — flow of water
  • French: courant de retour — flow of water
  • French: reflux — flow of water
  • German: Sog — flow of water
  • German: hinausziehende Strömung — flow of water
  • German: Gegenströmung — flow of water
  • German: Unterwasserströmung — flow of water
  • Greek: αντιμάμαλο (antimámalo) — flow of water
  • Icelandic: sog — flow of water
  • Italian: risacca — flow of water
  • Māori: miti — flow of water
  • Polish: prąd przeciwny podpowierzchniowy — flow of water
  • Serbo-Croatian: povratna morska struja — flow of water
  • Spanish: resaca — flow of water
  • Catalan: contracorrent — feeling
  • Finnish: pohjavire — feeling
  • Polish: podłoże emocjonalne — feeling
  • Spanish: contracorriente — feeling