# below

> English word · Preposition · IPA /bɪˈləʊ/ · frequency rank #943

## Definitions
1. Lower in spatial position than.
2. Lower than in value, price, rank, concentration, etc.
3. Downstream of.
4. South of.
5. Unsuitable to the rank or dignity of; beneath.
6. Downstage of.

## Etymology
From Middle English bilooghe, equivalent to be- + low. Compare also earlier Middle English alogh, alow, aloȝ, alowe (“below”), benethen (“beneath”), Dutch omlaag (“downwards”).

## Easily confused with
- **bow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-bow)
- **blog** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-blog)
- **blow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-blow)
- **belt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-belt)
- **blew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-blew)
- **bloc** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-bloc)
- **brow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-brow)
- **blob** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-blob)
- **blot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-blot)
- **Beto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-beto)
- **bolo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-bolo)
- **blown** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-blown)
- **blows** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-blows)
- **belts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-belts)
- **Bezos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-bezos)
- **bylaw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-bylaw)
- **bestow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-bestow)
- **Bigelow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/below-vs-bigelow)
- **bel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bel-vs-below)
- **bell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bell-vs-below)

## Common misspellings (6)
`bbelow`, `beloww`, `belwo`, `beolw`, `bleow`, `eblow`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/below