Meaning & use
the underground
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Meanings
nounsingularBritish
An electric railway system in which trains run mainly in tunnels under a city; the subway.
Grammar: Used with 'the': 'Take the underground to the museum.' In British English this often refers to the London Underground.
Patterns
- take the underground
- on the underground
- the underground station
We took the underground from King's Cross to Oxford Circus.
The underground is often crowded during rush hour.
She prefers the underground because it's faster than the bus.
nounsingular
A secret political or military group that works against a government or an enemy.
Grammar: Used with 'the': 'He joined the underground during the war.'
Patterns
- join the underground
- the underground movement
The underground helped people escape from the occupied territory.
He was a member of the underground during the revolution.
The underground published secret newspapers.
Common combinations
- the London Underground
- The London Underground is the oldest subway system in the world.
- underground station
- Meet me at the underground station at 6 p.m.
- underground train
- The underground train was delayed by signal problems.
- underground movement
- The underground movement fought for independence.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- underground adjective
- Below the surface of the ground, or secret.
Commonly confused: the underground or subway?
the underground vs subway
In the UK, a subway is a path for walking under a road, not a railway; in the US, it is the railway.
Practice
In British English, what does 'the underground' most commonly refer to?
Choose one answer.
In British English, 'the underground' usually means the subway system, especially in London. The secret group meaning is possible but less common in everyday talk.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “the underground”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.