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Below

Below is a preposition or an adverb.

Below meaning ‘lower than’​

We use below most commonly as a preposition meaning ‘lower than’. It has a similar meaning to under. The opposite of below is above. We use it when there is no contact between people or things:

  • [a teacher talking to a class]
  • Open your exercise book on page 27. Just below the picture there are some questions. Look at the picture and answer the questions.
  • There was a big clock below the painting.

When the adverb below is used to modify a noun, it follows the noun:

  • The apartment below is owned by a French couple.
  • We lived up in the mountains and the nearest town below was half an hour’s drive.

We use the adverb below when referring to the lower level or deck of a boat or ship:

  • [talking about a boat]
  • It was a wonderful little boat. We spent most of our time fishing and watching the sea. We’d go below to sleep and to eat.

Below with numbers, amounts or statistics​

When we talk about numbers, amounts or statistics being at a lower level, we use below more than under:

  • Inflation has fallen below 5% for the first time in six years.
  • The company’s profits in 2008 were below what they had hoped for.

Below referring forward in writing​

In formal writing, we use below to refer to something that we will mention or show later:

  • In the figure below, the results show that 54% of the rats tested were carrying the antibody …
  • There has been much discussion and debate about global warming (see below).
See also
  • Above
  • Beneath

Below: typical error​

We don’t use below when one thing touches or covers or hides something else; we usually use under instead:

  • Under a white coat, she wore an amazing red dress.
  • Not: Below a white coat …