understory

noun

un·​der·​sto·​ry ˈən-dər-ˌstȯr-ē How to pronounce understory (audio)
1
: an underlying layer of vegetation
specifically : the vegetative layer and especially the trees and shrubs between the forest canopy and the ground cover
2
: the plants that form the understory

Examples of understory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The sight took me by surprise because this species tends to hang out in the understory of dense forests, often on steep slopes. — Kate Wong, Scientific American, 1 May 2026 Even in the dark, damp understory of a Thai forest, this scorpion knows what’s moving around it. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026 Like forests on land, kelp forms dense canopies at the sea surface that shade a mid-water understory while below, their gnarled root-like holdfasts sculpt the seafloor. — Tatjana Baleta, Time, 28 May 2026 After that, in the twilight realm of the understory, the goings-on are handed over to fungi far older than the tree species themselves. — Kendra Atleework, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for understory

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of understory was in 1902

Rhymes for understory

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Browse Nearby Words

understood
understory
understrapper
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Cite this Entry

“Understory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/understory. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

understory

noun
un·​der·​sto·​ry ˈən-dər-ˌstōr-ē How to pronounce understory (audio)
-ˌstȯr-
: the layer of plants and especially the trees and shrubs between the forest canopy and the ground cover

More from Merriam-Webster on understory

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about understory

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