adj · adv · noun · verb · 11 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:/ʌndə(ɹ)ˈwɔːtə/
General-American:ŭndərwôʹtər
General-American:/ʌndɚˈwɔtəɹ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AH1 N D ER0 W AO2 T ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Beneath the surface of the water; of or pertaining to the region beneath the water surface.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
Watch out for underwater obstacles.
He was a pioneer in underwater exploration.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Beneath the water line of a vessel.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
Examples
When the ship was brought into dry dock, it was found that she had underwater damage.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
In difficulty, especially financially.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: above water, solvent, in the black
4
adj
Meaning 4
Having negative equity; owing more on an asset than its market value.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: business, finance
Examples
We've been underwater on our mortgage ever since the housing crash.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Of an option, having a strike price higher (call options) or lower (put options) than the current market price of the underlying asset or financial product; for example, an option to buy shares at $20 when the current market price is $15.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: business, finance
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adv
Meaning 6
So as to go beneath the surface of the water.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Can you swim underwater?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
Underlying water or body of water, for example in an aquifer or the deep ocean.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
A type of lure which lies beneath the water surface.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: fishing, hobbies, lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
To water or irrigate insufficiently.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
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 *wed- Proto-Indo-European *-r̥ Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ Proto-Germanic *watōr Proto-West Germanic *watar Old English wæter Middle English water English water English underwater From under- + water.
Across languages
Translations
55 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Azerbaijani:
sualtı
— beneath the water surface
Belarusian:
падво́дны
(padvódny)
— beneath the water surface
Bulgarian:
подводен
(podvoden)
— beneath the water surface
Catalan:
submarina
— beneath the water surface
Chinese Mandarin:
水下
(shuǐxià)
— beneath the water surface
Czech:
podvodní
— beneath the water surface
Dutch:
onderwater
— beneath the water surface
Dutch:
onderwater-
— beneath the water surface
Esperanto:
subakva
— beneath the water surface
Finnish:
vedenalainen
— beneath the water surface
French:
sous l'eau
— beneath the water surface
Georgian:
წყალქვეშა
(c̣q̇alkveša)
— beneath the water surface
German:
unter Wasser
— beneath the water surface
German:
Unterwasser-
— beneath the water surface
Greek:
υποθαλάσσιος
(ypothalássios)
— beneath the water surface
Ancient Greek:
ὕφυδρος
(húphudros)
— beneath the water surface
Irish:
faoi uisce
— beneath the water surface
Irish:
faoi thoinn
— beneath the water surface
Italian:
subacqueo
— beneath the water surface
Italian:
sottacqua
— beneath the water surface
Italian:
sott'acqua
— beneath the water surface
Japanese:
水中の
(suichū no)
— beneath the water surface
Kazakh:
су асты
(su asty)
— beneath the water surface
Korean:
수중
(sujung)
— beneath the water surface
Latin:
summersus
— beneath the water surface
Latvian:
zemūdens
— beneath the water surface
Lithuanian:
povandeninis
— beneath the water surface
Navajo:
táłtłʼáahdi
— beneath the water surface
Norwegian Nynorsk:
undervass-
— beneath the water surface
Persian:
زیرآبی
(zêr-e-âbi)
— beneath the water surface
Persian:
تحتالبحری
(taht-ol-bahri)
— beneath the water surface
Polish:
podwodny
— beneath the water surface
Portuguese:
submarino
— beneath the water surface
Portuguese:
subaquático
— beneath the water surface
Portuguese:
submarinho
— beneath the water surface
Russian:
подво́дный
(podvódnyj)
— beneath the water surface
Southern Altai:
сууныҥ алдындагы
(suunïŋ aldïndagï)
— beneath the water surface
Southern Altai:
сууныҥ тӱбинде јӱрер
(suunïŋ tübinde ǰürer)
— beneath the water surface
Spanish:
sumergido
— beneath the water surface
Spanish:
subacuático
— beneath the water surface
Tajik:
зериобӣ
(zeriobi)
— beneath the water surface
Tamil:
நீருக்கடியில்
(nīrukkaṭiyil)
— beneath the water surface
Turkish:
su altı
— beneath the water surface
Ukrainian:
підво́дний
(pidvódnyj)
— beneath the water surface
Unami:
èkwpiye
— beneath the water surface
Welsh:
tanddwr
— beneath the water surface
Bulgarian:
под ватерлинията
(pod vaterlinijata)
— nautical: beneath the water line
Catalan:
submarí
— nautical: beneath the water line
Chinese Mandarin:
水下
(shuǐxià)
— nautical: beneath the water line
Finnish:
vedenalainen
— nautical: beneath the water line
Irish:
faoi uisce
— nautical: beneath the water line
Polish:
pod wodą
— nautical: beneath the water line
Bulgarian:
подводно
(podvodno)
— nautical: going beneath the surface of the water
Italian:
sott'acqua
— nautical: going beneath the surface of the water
Portuguese:
debaixo d'água
— nautical: going beneath the surface of the water
