Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Something that is ~ another thing is under the other thing.
She could see the muscles of his shoulders ~ his T-shirt...
She found pleasure in sitting ~ the trees...
...the frozen grass crunching ~ his feet.
= under
? above
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Beneath is also an adverb.
On a shelf ~ he spotted a photo album.
= below
? above
ADV: n ADV, ADV after v
2.
If you talk about what is ~ the surface of something, you are talking about the aspects of it which are hidden or not obvious.
...emotional strains ~ the surface...
Beneath the festive mood there is an underlying apprehension.
= under
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3.
If you say that someone or something is ~ you, you feel that they are not good enough for you or not suitable for you.
They decided she was marrying ~ her...
Many find themselves having to take jobs far ~ them.
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