beneath

UK: /bɪˈniːθ/ US: /bɪˈniθ/ ,(bi nēth′, -nēᵺ′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2023

be•neath /bɪˈniθ/   adv. 

1. in or to a lower position;
   below:
   From the mountain he looked down to the fjord beneath.

prep. 

2. below;
   under:
   They lived beneath the same roof.
3. farther down than:
   the drawer beneath the top one.
4. lower down on a slope than:
   beneath the crest of a hill.
5. less important than;
   inferior to:
   A captain is beneath a major.
6. below the level or dignity of;
   not worthy of: Your remarks are beneath contempt (=
   Your remarks are not even worthy of contempt, they are so bad).

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023

be•neath  (bi nēth′, -nēᵺ′), adv. 

1. below;
   in or to a lower place, position, state, or the like.
2. underneath:
   heaven above and the earth beneath.

prep. 

3. below;
   under:
   beneath the same roof.
4. farther down than;
   underneath;
   lower in place than:
   The first drawer beneath the top one.
5. lower down on a slope than:
   beneath the crest of a hill.
6. inferior or less important, as in position, rank, or power:
   A captain is beneath a major.
7. unworthy of;
   below the level or dignity of:
   to regard others as beneath one; behavior that was beneath contempt.

• Middle English benethe, Old English beneothan, equivalent. to be- be- + neothan below, akin to Old High German nidana. See nether bef. 900

Synonyms

• 3. See below. 

Antonyms

• 1. above.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

beneath /bɪˈniːθ/ prep

1. below, esp if covered, protected, or obscured by
2. not as great or good as would be demanded by: beneath his dignity

adv

1. below; underneath

Etymology: Old English beneothan, from be- + neothan low; see nether