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
Found in a water tank, this new species lives underground and might still be evolving towards a fully subterranean life.
—
Stories By Real-Time News Team, With Ai Summarization, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
An entire subterranean floor dedicated to wellness has been carved out to create the largest spa area of any hotel in the city, while the 126 rooms and suites have a classic contemporary feel, with bespoke Belgian artwork hanging on the wall.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
The sprawling subterranean landmark will be open again this summer.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2025
The subterranean location, occupying a 4,000-square-foot space that previously housed a Paper Source and a Hallmark store, triples Rough Trade’s midtown footprint.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 11 Apr. 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.
Stories By Real-Time News Team, With Ai Summarization, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
An entire subterranean floor dedicated to wellness has been carved out to create the largest spa area of any hotel in the city, while the 126 rooms and suites have a classic contemporary feel, with bespoke Belgian artwork hanging on the wall.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
The sprawling subterranean landmark will be open again this summer.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2025
The subterranean location, occupying a 4,000-square-foot space that previously housed a Paper Source and a Hallmark store, triples Rough Trade’s midtown footprint.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 11 Apr. 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 23 Apr. 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