below

1 of 4

adverb

be·​low bi-ˈlō 

1

: in or to a lower place

gazed at the water below

voices from the apartment below

2

a

: on earth

improvements in conditions here below

—Times Literary Supplement

b

: in or to Hades or hell

3

: on or to a lower floor or deck

ordered the crew below

4

a

: in, to, at, or by a lower rank or number

suitable for children age 10 and below

b

: below zero

the temperature was 20 below

5

: lower on the same page or on a following page

See the graph below.

6

: under the surface of the water

thirty fathoms below

below

2 of 4

preposition

1

a

: lower in place, rank, or value than : under

Our apartment is below theirs.

Her skirt reached below her knees.

The sun dipped below the horizon.

b

: down river from

moored a mile below town

c

: south of

located 20 miles below the nation's capital

2

: inferior to (as in rank)

A lieutenant is below a captain.

3

: not suitable to the rank of : beneath

considers such work below him

below

3 of 4

noun

: something that is below

below

4 of 4

adjective

: written or discussed lower on the same page or on a following page

the below list

Synonyms

Adverb

• beneath
• under
• underneath

Preposition

• beneath
• neath [dialect]
• under

Examples of below in a Sentence

Adverb

The pencil rolled off the desk and fell to the floor below.

The pilot looked down at the sea far below.

We heard the elevator stop at the floor below.

They secured the goods on deck and went below.

All personnel, captain and below, were ordered to report for duty.

Preposition

Our apartment is below theirs.

We could see only clouds below us.

The diver descended below 25 meters.

The sun disappeared below the horizon.

a spot directly below us

the valley far below us

Temperatures were below average all week.

She worked for wage rates below those of other workers.

He ranks far below his superior.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

The new ride will send thrill-seekers down a three-story first drop, then propel them uphill through an identical side-by-side race course of enclosed and open tubes and 180-degree high-bank turns before hitting a final straightaway drop to the finish line pool below. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024

In the meantime, more of our coverage is linked below. —Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024

Preposition

The finalists, listed below, have a chance to win a $1 million grand prize. —Alex Perry, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024

Target stock tanked 21% Wednesday, its worst day in more than two years, after third-quarter earnings and revenue fell below analyst expectations. —Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Noun

The below are shining examples of everything a lip gloss should be. —Claire Sullivan, WWD, 7 Aug. 2024

Get to know Jordan by reading this rapid-fire Q-and-A below. —Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 11 Feb. 2024

Adjective

He’s been a below average pick-and-roll defender by the numbers in the pros so far, so his ability to force stops in that common action will matter with the blue and gold. —Tony East, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024

Murray and Robertson detailed their process making the film, the costumes and choreography and what went into that meet cute moment in the below interview. DEADLINE: Were there any classic Christmas movies or holiday movies that inspired you both in the process of making The Merry Gentleman? —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English bilooghe, from bi by + looghe low, adjective

Preposition

derivative of below entry 1

Noun

noun derivative of below entry 1

Adjective

adjective derivative of below entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

circa 1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1828, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1870, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing below

• below par
• below standard
• below the belt
• from below

Kids Definition

below

1 of 2 adverb

be·​low bi-ˈlō 

1

: in or to a lower place

2

: on a lower floor or deck

3

: below zero

the temperature was 20 below

below

2 of 2 preposition

: lower than

the diver descends below 25 meters

below average

selling below cost

Legal Definition

below

1 of 2 adverb

be·​low

1

: in a lower court

the presumption that the decisions below…are correct

—W. J. Brennan, Jr.

2

: lower on the same page or on a following page

the paragraph below

below

2 of 2 preposition

: lower in place, rank, or value than