underwater

adjective

ˌən-dər-ˈwȯ-tər How to pronounce underwater (audio)
Definition of underwaternext
as in aquatic
living, lying, or occurring below the surface of the water underwater plants don't require as much light to grow as surface plants a vessel designed for underwater exploration

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of underwater The bridge’s 22 piers were seismically retrofitted from the water upward in 2002, but the underwater infrastructure supporting the piers hasn’t been renovated or upgraded since the bridge opened to traffic in 1969. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026 Those could include remote sensors, autonomous underwater vehicles and other equipment that requires persistent, low-visibility power in remote and sensitive offshore and coastal environments, as well as power resiliency for forward military bases. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 The underwater robot couldn’t lift the rock, but the robot was equipped with a vacuum tube. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Aug. 2026 Cirque du Soleil’s otherworldly adventure, combining high-flying tricks and underwater artistry, has been reimagined in Shared Reality. — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for underwater
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underwater
  1. aquatic
  2. submarine
  3. submerged
Adjective
  • Once this aquatic animal was able to live out of water, its 18 appendages were lost over generations.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Milander Aquatic Center has become a hub for aquatic programs in the area, drawing swimmers, families, schools and athletes from Miami Springs, Hialeah Gardens and other parts of Miami-Dade County.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of aquatic
Adjective
  • But a new antenna technology, borrowed from the physics of medical implants, is rethinking how submarine machines talk to each other – and to us.
    — Omar Kardoudi June 06, New Atlas, 6 June 2026
  • Despite the ongoing retirement of older hulls, the PLAN's submarine force is expected to grow to 65 units by 2025 and 80 units by 2035 due to an expansion of submarine construction capacity.
    — Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 July 2025
Definition of submarine
Adjective
  • Police said the plane will remain submerged until FAA investigators can examine it.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • But some of the reservoir’s underwater history is well known and will remain submerged for some time yet.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of submerged

Browse Nearby Words

undervaluing
underwater
under way
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Underwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underwater. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All