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below, under, underneath and beneath

‘lower than’: below or under​

The prepositions below and under can both mean ‘lower than’.

  • Look in the cupboard below/under the sink.

Not directly under: below​

We prefer below when one thing is not directly under another.

  • The climbers stopped 300m below the top of the mountain.
  • A moment later the sun had disappeared below the horizon.

Covered: under​

We prefer under when something is covered or hidden by what is over it, and when things are touching.

  • I think the cat’s under the bed.
  • What are you wearing under your sweater?
  • The whole village is under water. (not … below water.)

Measurements: below​

Below is used in measurements of temperature and height, and in other cases where we think of a vertical scale.

  • The temperature is three degrees below zero.
  • Parts of Holland are below sea level.
  • The plane came down below the clouds.
  • She’s well below average in intelligence.

‘less than’: under​

We usually use under, not below, to mean ‘less/fewer than’ or ‘younger than’.

  • There were under twenty people at the lecture.
  • You can’t see this film if you’re under 18.

underneath​

Underneath is sometimes used as a preposition instead of under, but only for physical position. Compare:

  • There’s a mouse under(neath) the piano.
  • He’s still under 18. (not … underneath 18.)

beneath​

Beneath is used mostly in a rather literary style.

  • The ship sank slowly beneath the waves.

It is common before abstract nouns in some fixed expressions.

  • He acts as if I was beneath his notice. (= not worth considering)
  • Her behaviour is beneath contempt. (= really disgraceful)

Adverbs​

Below can be used as an adverb.

  • We looked over the cliff at the waves crashing on the rocks below.

Under can be used as an adverb particle (see here) with some verbs.

  • A lot of businesses are going under because of the economic crisis.

In other cases we prefer underneath for adverbial use.

  • I can’t take my sweater off – I haven’t got anything on underneath. (not … anything on under.)

In a book or a paper, see below means ‘look at something written later in the text’.

note

The difference between above and over is similar to the difference between below and under. (see here) for details.