at or to a position lower than; under less than in quantity or degree south of downstream of unworthy of; beneath
at or to a lower position or place at a later place (in something written) beneath heaven; on earth or in hell
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
be•low /bɪˈloʊ/USA pronunciation
adv.
prep.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- in or toward a lower place: Look out below!
- Naval Terms, on, in, or toward a lower deck or floor:five flights below.
- beneath the surface of the water:The submarine quickly dived below.
- at a later point (on a page or in a piece of writing): See the illustration below.
- in a lower rank or grade: He was demoted to the class below.
- under zero on the temperature scale:It was twenty-six below, with a high wind.
prep.
- lower down than:below the surface of the sea.
- lower in rank, degree, rate, etc.:It was sold below cost.
be•low
(bi lō′),USA pronunciation adv.
prep.
- in or toward a lower place:Look out below!
- Naval Terms, on, in, or toward a lower level, as a lower deck of a ship:The captain of the ship went below.
- beneath the surface of the water:Divers were sent below to view the wreck.
- on earth:the fate of creatures here below.
- in hell or the infernal regions.
- at a later point on a page or in a text:See the illustration below.Cf. above (def. 5).
- in a lower rank or grade:He was demoted to the class below.
- under zero on the temperature scale:The temperature in Buffalo was ten below this morning.
- Show Business[Theat.]downstage. Cf. above (def. 8).
- Zoologyon the lower or ventral side.
prep.
- lower down than:below the knee.
- lower in rank, degree, amount, rate, etc., than:below cost; below freezing.
- too low or undignified to be worthy of;
beneath:He considered such an action below his notice. - Show Business[Theat.]downstage of:There are two chairs below the table.
- Middle English bilooghe, equivalent. to bi- by (see be-) + looghe low1 1275–1325
- 11.See corresponding entry in Unabridged Below, under, beneath indicate position in some way lower than something else. Below implies being in a lower plane:below the horizon, the water line.Under implies being lower in a perpendicular line:The book is under the chair.Beneath may have a meaning similar to below, but more usually denotes being under so as to be covered, overhung, or overtopped:the pool beneath the falls.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::