subterranean
adjective
sub·ter·ra·nean
ˌsəb-tə-ˈrā-nē-ən 
-nyən
variants
or less commonly subterraneous
ˌsəb-tə-ˈrā-nē-əs
-nyəs
1
: being, lying, or operating under the surface of the earth
2
: existing or working in secret : hidden
a subterranean network of criminals
subterraneanly
adverb
or less commonly subterraneously
Did you know?
Go Underground With Subterranean
A tunnel is a subterranean road or pathway, and a subway is a subterranean railway. The subterranean vaults at Fort Knox hold billions of dollars of gold reserves. Subterranean reservoirs called aquifers are tapped for water; in places where the pressure on the subterranean water is great enough, a hole drilled in the ground will bring it bubbling to the surface.
Examples of subterranean in a Sentence
a subterranean bunker that supposedly could withstand even an atomic blast
Recent Examples on the Web
Just a few blocks from the festival is this subterranean boite, situated underneath Little Sister, an always-excellent Dutch-Indonesian restaurant.
—
Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
But while the area has been evacuated, a gang of robbers led by James is drilling into the subterranean vault of a nearby bank.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Fortunately, one of those admitted was filmmaker Werner Herzog, who was granted permission to bring small cameras into the subterranean limestone system to make a documentary.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
Things to Do Explore the Shenandoah Caverns Go beneath the surface at Shenandoah Caverns, a fascinating subterranean attraction.
—Tykesha Spivey Burton, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subterranean
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
But while the area has been evacuated, a gang of robbers led by James is drilling into the subterranean vault of a nearby bank.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Fortunately, one of those admitted was filmmaker Werner Herzog, who was granted permission to bring small cameras into the subterranean limestone system to make a documentary.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
Things to Do Explore the Shenandoah Caverns Go beneath the surface at Shenandoah Caverns, a fascinating subterranean attraction.
—Tykesha Spivey Burton, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subterranean
Cite this Entry
“Subterranean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subterranean. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
subterranean
adjective
sub·ter·ra·nean
ˌsəb-tə-ˈrā-nē-ən
-nyən
1
: being, lying, or operating under the surface of the earth
2
: existing or working in secret : hidden
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share