adjective

underground

uhn-duh-GROWND

adjective

Located beneath the surface of the ground.

"The city has an extensive underground parking system."

Hidden from public view or authority; secretive.

"The rebels ran an underground network to smuggle supplies."

Relating to art, music, or culture outside the mainstream.

"She got her start in the underground music scene."

noun

A subway or train system running below street level, especially in London.

"We took the Underground to get to the museum."

How to Use Underground

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBelow the surface, or by extension, hidden from mainstream view — whether that's a resistance movement or an art scene.

UK vs US

In the UK, "the Underground" (or "the Tube") refers to London's subway; Americans would say "subway."

Common pairings

underground railway underground music go underground

Word Forms

more underground comparative, more underground comparative, undergrounded past tense, undergrounds plural, undergrounds singular, most underground superlative, most underground superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The city has an extensive _____ parking system.

Etymology

From Middle English undergrounde, from under + ground.

Rhymes for underground

pound wound sound bound found round hound mound abound ground around rebound

See all rhymes for underground →