English Grammar

Below and Under

The prepositions below and under can both mean ‘lower than’. But there are some differences.

Below

Below is preferred when one thing is not directly under another.

• When the sun sets, it sinks below the horizon.

Below is used in measurements of temperature and height, and in other cases where we think of a vertical scale.

• The temperature is 10 degrees below zero.
• The Dead Sea is below sea level.
• She is below average in intelligence.

Under

We prefer under when something is covered or hidden by what is over it.

• I think the cat is under the bed.
• The whole village was under water.

We usually use under, not below, to mean ‘less than’ or ‘younger than’.

• There were under fifty people at the meeting.
• You cannot see this film if you are under 18.

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