Undercurrent
noun
An unseen movement or tendency that is different from what is visible or understood.
Despite her cheerful personality, there was an undercurrent of sadness in her jokes.
Often appears as...
- undercurrent of unease
- undercurrent of tension
noun
A hidden feeling or tendency often contrary to the one openly shown and having a powerful influence.
There's always been an undercurrent of racism in this town.
Often appears as...
- undercurrent of hostility
- undercurrent of resentment
noun
An ocean's current that flows beneath the upper ones.
The diver was dragged away by a strong undercurrent.
Often appears as...
- strong undercurrent
- dangerous undercurrent
noun
An unseen movement or tendency that is different from what is visible or understood.
Despite her cheerful personality, there was an undercurrent of sadness in her jokes.
Often appears as...
- undercurrent of unease
- undercurrent of tension
noun
A hidden feeling or tendency often contrary to the one openly shown and having a powerful influence.
There's always been an undercurrent of racism in this town.
Often appears as...
- undercurrent of hostility
- undercurrent of resentment
noun
An ocean's current that flows beneath the upper ones.
The diver was dragged away by a strong undercurrent.
Often appears as...
- strong undercurrent
- dangerous undercurrent
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Emotions
Use 'undercurrent' to describe feelings not visible on the surface, but influencing behavior subtly.
Amidst the laughter, there was an undercurrent of tension among them.
Pro Tip 2/3Contrasting Appearance
'Undercurrent' implies a difference between what is shown and what is felt or intended.
His smile didn't reach his eyes, revealing an undercurrent of sorrow.
Pro Tip 3/3Nuanced Context
Look for subtle narrative cues to detect an 'undercurrent' in literature and speech.
The dialogue was casual, but an undercurrent of urgency ran through it.
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Emotions
Use 'undercurrent' to describe feelings not visible on the surface, but influencing behavior subtly.
Amidst the laughter, there was an undercurrent of tension among them.
Pro Tip 2/3Contrasting Appearance
'Undercurrent' implies a difference between what is shown and what is felt or intended.
His smile didn't reach his eyes, revealing an undercurrent of sorrow.
Pro Tip 3/3Nuanced Context
Look for subtle narrative cues to detect an 'undercurrent' in literature and speech.
The dialogue was casual, but an undercurrent of urgency ran through it.
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Emotions
Use 'undercurrent' to describe feelings not visible on the surface, but influencing behavior subtly.
Amidst the laughter, there was an undercurrent of tension among them.
Pro Tip 2/3Contrasting Appearance
'Undercurrent' implies a difference between what is shown and what is felt or intended.
His smile didn't reach his eyes, revealing an undercurrent of sorrow.
Pro Tip 3/3Nuanced Context
Look for subtle narrative cues to detect an 'undercurrent' in literature and speech.
The dialogue was casual, but an undercurrent of urgency ran through it.
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Video examples
How to make jokes at a...
problem but the question is what do we do I feel like we need to use their weaknesses against them right and we I feel like it's very powerful to have an undercurrent of mockery in our approach so with that I developed a few rules of thumb one never call them by their real
Video examples
Jonathan Haidt:...
It's about joining with others to pursue moral ideas. It's about the eternal struggle between good and evil, and we all believe we're on the good team. And most importantly, if the staircase is real, it explains the persistent undercurrent
Video examples
Bilbo the Lifeguard Dog...
over the years Steve's made hundreds of sea rescues to do it he has to maintain peak fitness and whenever Steve goes training Bilbo goes to to battle against the undercurrents in these waters lifeguards
Video examples
Meru: Risk and...
I was just expecting to get torn to pieces but after a while it started to slow down and this weird undercurrent started pushing me up through the snow, and
Video examples
How to make jokes at a...
problem but the question is what do we do I feel like we need to use their weaknesses against them right and we I feel like it's very powerful to have an undercurrent of mockery in our approach so with that I developed a few rules of thumb one never call them by their real
Video examples
Jonathan Haidt:...
It's about joining with others to pursue moral ideas. It's about the eternal struggle between good and evil, and we all believe we're on the good team. And most importantly, if the staircase is real, it explains the persistent undercurrent
Video examples
Bilbo the Lifeguard Dog...
over the years Steve's made hundreds of sea rescues to do it he has to maintain peak fitness and whenever Steve goes training Bilbo goes to to battle against the undercurrents in these waters lifeguards
Video examples
Meru: Risk and...
I was just expecting to get torn to pieces but after a while it started to slow down and this weird undercurrent started pushing me up through the snow, and
Example 1 of 4
Quote examples
Kangana Ranaut
Indian Actress
I don't know why everyone feels the pressure to look young. Personally, I hate it. I don't want to inject Botox and look young forever. It's living in denial and anything that has an undercurrent of this philosophy is bad for your growth.
Quote examples
Puneet Issar
Indian Actor
Parshuram's is a very detailed character. People generally know him as an angry man who goes around cursing. What they are not aware of is the undercurrent of pain behind every curse of his. I bring out this pain in the character.
Quote examples
Panos Cosmatos
Canadian Director
Well, I'm really interested in the idea of making genre films, but movies have a much more personal undercurrent to them and that look beautiful, and that's sort of the films I'm kind of interested in making.
Quote examples
Miranda Rae Mayo
American Actress
I believe that there is a universal presence that is the kind of magical undercurrent in life that we all feel and is connected in, through, and as everything. That's what I think God is.
Quote examples
Oneohtrix Point Never
American Musician
Games isn't really pop music, and neither is OPN. Both are part of the same ecosystem and both deal with exploring the undercurrents of pop music.
Quote examples
Olga Tokarczuk
Polish Writer
Polish culture has always had a strong anti-Semitic undercurrent. There has been awful persecution.
Quote examples
Kate Winslet
Actress
Lots of male friendships begin as a cheeky snog. Or a little undercurrent of flirtation.
Quote examples
Helen Baxendale
English Actress
I suit high passions, and I can play women who have undercurrents going on.
Quote examples
Annalee Newitz
American Journalist
Put simply, 'Interstellar' has a strong undercurrent of cheesiness.
Quote examples
Danny Carey
American Musician
Chaos is the undercurrent of everything that happens in life.
Quote examples
Kangana Ranaut
Indian Actress
I don't know why everyone feels the pressure to look young. Personally, I hate it. I don't want to inject Botox and look young forever. It's living in denial and anything that has an undercurrent of this philosophy is bad for your growth.
Quote examples
Puneet Issar
Indian Actor
Parshuram's is a very detailed character. People generally know him as an angry man who goes around cursing. What they are not aware of is the undercurrent of pain behind every curse of his. I bring out this pain in the character.
Quote examples
Panos Cosmatos
Canadian Director
Well, I'm really interested in the idea of making genre films, but movies have a much more personal undercurrent to them and that look beautiful, and that's sort of the films I'm kind of interested in making.
Quote examples
Miranda Rae Mayo
American Actress
I believe that there is a universal presence that is the kind of magical undercurrent in life that we all feel and is connected in, through, and as everything. That's what I think God is.
Quote examples
Oneohtrix Point Never
American Musician
Games isn't really pop music, and neither is OPN. Both are part of the same ecosystem and both deal with exploring the undercurrents of pop music.
Quote examples
Olga Tokarczuk
Polish Writer
Polish culture has always had a strong anti-Semitic undercurrent. There has been awful persecution.
Quote examples
Kate Winslet
Actress
Lots of male friendships begin as a cheeky snog. Or a little undercurrent of flirtation.
Quote examples
Helen Baxendale
English Actress
I suit high passions, and I can play women who have undercurrents going on.
Quote examples
Annalee Newitz
American Journalist
Put simply, 'Interstellar' has a strong undercurrent of cheesiness.
Quote examples
Danny Carey
American Musician
Chaos is the undercurrent of everything that happens in life.
Example 1 of 10
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