below — English Dictionary

Preposition

1. Lower in spatial position than.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   One morning I had been driven to the precarious refuge afforded by the steps of the inn, after rejecting offers from the Celebrity to join him in a variety of amusements. But even here I was not free from interruption, for he was seated on a horse-block below me, playing with a fox terrier.

   The treasure is buried two meters below the surface.

   The marmalade is on the shelf below the bread.

2. Lower than in value, price, rank, concentration, etc.

   Examples

   one degree below kings

   More examples (1)

   Surprisingly, this analysis revealed that acute exposure to solvent vapors at concentrations below those associated with long-term effects appears to increase the risk of a fatal automobile accident. Furthermore, this increase in risk is comparable to the risk of death from leukemia after long-term exposure to benzene, another solvent, which has the well-known property of causing this type of cancer.

   The temperature is below zero.

   More examples (1)

   Liverpool are below Manchester City in the Premier League.

3. Downstream of.

   Examples

   The River Thames is tidal below Teddington Lock.

4. South of.

   Examples

   Sudan is below Egypt.

5. Unsuitable to the rank or dignity of; beneath.

   Examples

   They beheld, with a just loathing and disdain, […] how below all history the persons and their actions were.

   who thinks no fact below his regard

   More examples (1)

   Such petty behavior is below me.

6. Downstage of.

   Examples

   Below the sofa is a low, round coffee table.

Adverb

1. In or to a lower place.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   The town is situated on a hillside, with a river running below.

   He was pulled below by a sea monster.

   More examples (1)

   But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. […]The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window at the old mare feeding in the meadow below by the brook, and a 'bead' could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge,[…].

2. In or to a lower place. On or to a lower storey.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   She lives below, on the ground floor.

3. In or to a lower place. On or to a lower deck, especially as relative to the main deck.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   The captain went below to inspect the engine.

   the landlubbers lying down below

4. Later in the same text.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   This point is explained below.

   By their execution hereof, the Parties incur a legal obligation to pass consideration under this Loan Contract as is set forth below.

5. Below zero.

   Usage

   • not-comparable
   • of a temperature

   Examples

   It was forty degrees below.

Adverb

1. in or to a place that is lower

   Synonyms

   at a lower placeto a lower placebeneath

   Antonyms

   above

2. (in writing) at a later place

   Synonyms

   infra

   Antonyms

   above

   Examples

   see below

   vide infra

3. on a floor below

   Synonyms

   downstairsdown the stairson a lower floor

   Examples

   the tenants live downstairs

4. further down

   Synonyms

   under

   Examples

   see under for further discussion