go under: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Formal. More common in business/news contexts; literal use can be everyday.
Quick answer
What does “go under” mean?
To sink beneath a surface.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To sink beneath a surface; to fail or collapse.
Primarily used metaphorically for businesses or people failing (e.g., bankrupt) or literally for objects/ships sinking.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage patterns.
Connotations
Slightly more dramatic in both varieties; suggests a complete and often public failure.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties, especially in business/financial journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “go under” in a Sentence
[Subject] + go under[Subject] + go under + Adverb (e.g., completely)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “go under” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Without more investment, the theatre will go under.
- Several ships went under during the storm.
American English
- If sales don't improve, the startup will go under.
- The old pier finally went under in the hurricane.
adverb
British English
- N/A (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- N/A (Not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- N/A (Not used as an adjective)
American English
- N/A (Not used as an adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common: 'The high street retailer is expected to go under by the end of the year.'
Academic
Rare, except in historical/economic texts describing company failures.
Everyday
Understandable but dramatic; more casual synonyms like 'go bust' might be used.
Technical
Maritime contexts for literal sinking ('The vessel went under in minutes').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “go under”
- Incorrect: *'The project went under the water.' (Use 'sank' for literal). Correct: 'The business went under.'
- Incorrect tense: *'The company is going under for months.' Correct: 'The company has been going under for months' or 'has been failing'.
- Confusing 'go under' with 'undergo' (e.g., 'undergo surgery').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but can sound dramatic. In very formal business reports, 'enter liquidation' or 'become insolvent' might be preferred.
Yes, but metaphorically, meaning to succumb to pressure or fail completely (e.g., 'He went under after the scandal'). Not for literal drowning.
'Go down' can also mean fail (especially for websites/systems) but is less final. 'Go under' strongly implies sinking/bankruptcy. A ship 'goes down' or 'goes under'; a business 'goes under' (not usually 'goes down').
No direct noun form. Related nouns are 'collapse', 'failure', 'bankruptcy', 'sinking'.
To sink beneath a surface.
Go under: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡəʊ ˈʌn.dər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡoʊ ˈʌn.dɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Go under the knife (for surgery)”
- “Go under the hammer (be auctioned). Note: These are separate idioms from the phrasal verb 'go under'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a ship's name painted on the hull. As it sinks (GOES), the name disappears UNDER the water. For business: a company's logo sinking under a red 'FAILED' stamp.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAILURE IS SINKING/DROWNING. (e.g., 'drowning in debt', 'sinking fast', 'going under').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'go under' LEAST likely to be used?