Lower vs. Below — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 5, 2024
"Lower" refers to a comparative level or position, often implying a decrease, while "below" describes a spatial relationship where something is underneath or less than something else.
Difference Between Lower and Below
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Key Differences
"Lower" is generally used to describe something in a comparative lower position or level, suggesting a reduction or movement downwards. On the other hand, "below" specifically denotes that something is directly underneath another or less than a particular point or standard.
When you adjust a volume knob to a "lower" setting, you are decreasing the volume. Whereas, if you say the noise from downstairs is coming from "below," you are specifying that the source is underneath your current position.
"Lower" can also imply a hierarchy or ranking, such as in "lower management," where it describes a position lower in authority. In contrast, "below" does not imply hierarchy but is purely spatial or quantitative, as in temperatures falling "below freezing."
In usage, "lower" can function as a verb, meaning to reduce in height, depth, or intensity, e.g., "lowering a flag." Meanwhile, "below" cannot be used as a verb and strictly serves as a preposition or an adverb.
The application of "lower" is broader, potentially applicable in abstract senses like "lowering one’s expectations." "Below," however, is typically used in more concrete, measurable contexts, such as "below average."
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Comparative degree of less height, depth, or number
Spatial or quantitative relationship of lesser status
Usage as part of speech
Can be an adjective, adverb, or verb
Used as a preposition or adverb
Contextual use
Can denote rank, intensity, position
Mainly used for spatial orientation or quantities
Examples
Lower shelf, lower the volume
Below sea level, temperature below zero
Implication
Often indicates a decrease or reduction
Indicates positioning or status under a reference point
Compare with Definitions
Lower
Reduced in amount or value.
The company has lowered its prices to attract more customers.
Below
Not covered by or included within.
Below that, you’ll find the footnotes.
Lower
To cause to move to a lesser position.
She lowered the basket into the well.
Below
At a lower level or layer than.
The submarine dived below the surface of the water.
Lower
Of lesser rank, status, or importance.
He works in the lower echelons of the corporate ladder.
Below
Lower in rank, degree, or importance.
An officer below the rank of captain.
Lower
To diminish in pitch or volume.
Lower your voice when talking in the library.
Below
Less than; lower in amount or degree.
Temperatures will be below freezing tonight.
Lower
Situated or appearing to be situated beneath another.
The lower shelves are easier for children to reach.
Below
Under the authority or jurisdiction of.
Matters that are below the court’s competence.
Lower
To look angry, sullen, or threatening.
Below
In or to a lower place; beneath.
Lower
To appear dark or stormy, as the sky.
Below
On or to a lower floor; downstairs.
Lower
To let, bring, or move down to a lower level.
Below
(Nautical) On or to a lower deck.
Lower
To reduce in value, degree, or quality.
Below
In a later part of a given text
Figures quoted below.
Lower
To weaken; undermine
Lower one's energy.
Below
Farther down, as along a slope or valley.
Lower
To reduce in standing or respect.
Below
In or to hell or Hades.
Lower
To move down
Her hand lowered.
Below
On the earth.
Lower
To become less; diminish
The temperature has lowered gradually this month.
Below
In a lower rank or class.
Lower
A threatening, sullen, or angry look.
Below
Below zero in temperature
40° below.
Lower
A dark or stormy appearance
The lower of thunderheads.
Below
Underneath; beneath.
Lower
Having little relative height; not high or tall
A low wall.
Below
Lower than, as on a graduated scale.
Lower
Rising only slightly above surrounding surfaces
A low hill.
Below
Downstream of
Launched the canoe just below the bridge.
Lower
Near to the ground or the horizon
The low clouds threaten rain. The sun is low.
Below
South of
Guatemala is below Mexico.
Lower
Situated or placed below normal height
A low lighting fixture.
Below
Unsuitable to the rank or dignity of
Such petty behavior is below me.
Lower
Situated below the surrounding surfaces
Water standing in low spots.
Below
Lower in spatial position than.
The treasure is buried two meters below the surface.
The marmalade is on the shelf below the bread.
Lower
Of less than usual or average depth; shallow
The river is low.
Below
Lower than in value, price, rank, concentration, etc.
The temperature is below zero.
Liverpool are below Manchester City in the Premier League.
Lower
Cut to show the wearer's neck and chest; décolleté
A low neckline.
Below
Downstream of.
The River Thames is tidal below Teddington Lock.
Lower
Close or closer to a reference point
Was low in the offensive zone, near the goal.
Below
South of.
Sudan is below Egypt.
Lower
(Linguistics) Produced with part or all of the tongue depressed, as a, pronounced (ä), in father. Used of vowels.
Below
Unsuitable to the rank or dignity of; beneath.
Such petty behavior is below me.
Lower
Below average in degree, intensity, or amount
A low temperature.
Below
(stage directions) Downstage of.
Lower
Below an average or a standard
Low wages.
A low level of communication.
Below
In or to a lower place.
The town is situated on a hillside, with a river running below.
He was pulled below by a sea monster.
Lower
Ranked near the beginning of an ascending series or scale
A low number.
A low grade of oil.
Below
On or to a lower storey.
She lives below, on the ground floor.
Lower
Relating to or being latitudes nearest to the equator.
Below
(nautical) On or to a lower deck, especially as relative to the main deck.
The captain went below to inspect the engine.
The landlubbers lying down below
Lower
Relatively small. Used of a cost, price, or other value
A low fee.
A low income.
Below
Later in the same text.
This point is explained below.
By their execution hereof, the Parties incur a legal obligation to pass consideration under this Loan Contract as is set forth below.
Lower
Not loud; soft
A low murmur.
Below
(of a temperature) Below zero.
It was forty degrees below.
Lower
Having a pitch corresponding to a relatively small number of sound-wave cycles per second.
Below
Under, or lower in place; beneath not so high; as, below the moon; below the knee.
Lower
Below others in status or rank; lowly
Of low birth.
Below
Inferior to in rank, excellence, dignity, value, amount, price, etc.; lower in quality.
Lower
Violating standards of morality or decency; base
A low stunt to pull. ].
Below
Unworthy of; unbefitting; beneath.
They beheld, with a just loathing and disdain, . . . how below all history the persons and their actions were.
Who thinks no fact below his regard.
Lower
Below another in rank, position, or authority.
Below
In a lower place, with respect to any object; in a lower room; beneath.
Lord Marmion waits below.
Lower
Physically situated below a similar or comparable thing
A lower shelf.
Below
On the earth, as opposed to the heavens.
The fairest child of Jove below.
Lower
Lower Geology & Archaeology Relating to or being an earlier or older division of the period named.
Below
In hell, or the regions of the dead.
What business brought him to the realms below.
Lower
(Biology) Less complex in organization or having traits similar to those of organisms that evolved earlier in the history of life on Earth.
Below
In court or tribunal of inferior jurisdiction; as, at the trial below.
Lower
Denoting the larger and usually more representative house of a bicameral legislature.
Below
In some part or page following.
Lower
Bottom; more towards the bottom than the middle of an object
Below
In or to a place that is lower
Lower
Situated on lower ground, nearer a coast, or more southerly.
Lower Manhattan
Lower Burgundy
Below
At a later place;
See below
Lower
Older
Below
(in writing) see below;
Vide infra
Lower
(transitive) To let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down
Lower a bucket into a well
To lower a sail of a boat
Below
On a floor below;
The tenants live downstairs
Lower
(transitive) to pull down
To lower a flag
Below
Further down;
See under for further discussion
Lower
(transitive) To reduce the height of
Lower a fence or wall
Lower a chimney or turret
Lower
(transitive) To depress as to direction
Lower the aim of a gun
Lower
(transitive) To make less elevated
To lower one's ambition, aspirations, or hopes
Lower
(transitive) To reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of
Lower the temperature
Lower one's vitality
Lower distilled liquors
Lower
(transitive) To bring down; to humble
Lower one's pride
Lower
(reflexive) (lower oneself) To humble oneself; to do something one considers to be beneath one's dignity.
I could never lower myself enough to buy second-hand clothes.
Lower
(transitive) To reduce (something) in value, amount, etc.
Lower the price of goods
Lower the interest rate
Lower
(intransitive) To fall; to sink; to grow less; to diminish; to decrease
The river lowered as rapidly as it rose.
Lower
(intransitive) To decrease in value, amount, etc.
Lower
To reduce operations to single machine instructions, as part of compilation of a program.
Lower
Alternative spelling of lour
Lower
To let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down; as, to lower a bucket into a well; to lower a sail or a boat; sometimes, to pull down; as, to lower a flag.
Lowered softly with a threefold cord of loveDown to a silent grave.
Lower
To reduce the height of; as, to lower a fence or wall; to lower a chimney or turret.
Lower
To depress as to direction; as, to lower the aim of a gun; to make less elevated as to object; as, to lower one's ambition, aspirations, or hopes.
Lower
To reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of; as, to lower the temperature of anything; to lower one's vitality; to lower distilled liquors.
Lower
To bring down; to humble; as, to lower one's pride.
Lower
To reduce in value, amount, etc.; as, to lower the price of goods, the rate of interest, etc.
Lower
To fall; to sink; to grow less; to diminish; to decrease; as, the river lowered as rapidly as it rose.
Lower
To be dark, gloomy, and threatening, as clouds; to be covered with dark and threatening clouds, as the sky; to show threatening signs of approach, as a tempest.
All the clouds that lowered upon our house.
Lower
To frown; to look sullen.
But sullen discontent sat lowering on her face.
Lower
Cloudiness; gloominess.
Lower
A frowning; sullenness.
Lower
The lower of two berths
Lower
Move something or somebody to a lower position;
Take down the vase from the shelf
Lower
Set lower;
Lower a rating
Lower expectations
Lower
Cause to drop or sink;
The lack of rain had depressed the water level in the reservoir
Lower
Make lower or quieter;
Turn down the volume of a radio
Lower
Look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
Lower
(usually preceded by `no') lower in esteem;
No less a person than the king himself
Lower
Inferior in rank or status;
The junior faculty
A lowly corporal
Petty officialdom
A subordinate functionary
Lower
The bottom one of two;
He chose the lower number
Lower
Of the underworld;
Nether regions
Common Curiosities
What does "below" typically specify in usage?
"Below" typically specifies something that exists at a lesser height or depth, or less than a certain standard in quantitative measurements.
What is the primary difference between "lower" and "below"?
"Lower" refers to comparative levels or positions, often indicating a reduction, while "below" describes a spatial relationship of being underneath or less than.
Is "lower" used abstractly in language?
Yes, "lower" can be used both literally, like lowering a flag, and abstractly, like lowering expectations.
Can "below" be used as a verb?
No, "below" cannot be used as a verb; it is only used as a preposition or an adverb.
How do "lower" and "below" differ in conveying information about items in a physical space?
"Lower" might refer to a position in relation to other objects in a vertical arrangement, while "below" specifically points to one item being directly underneath another.
Which term is more appropriate for discussing changes in numerical values?
"Lower" is more appropriate for discussing changes in numerical values, especially if it involves reduction or decrease.
Can "lower" and "below" be used interchangeably?
While they sometimes can be used in similar contexts, they are not generally interchangeable due to "lower" implying movement or comparison and "below" indicating a fixed spatial relation.
How does "lower" function in a hierarchical context?
In a hierarchical context, "lower" denotes a lower rank or position within a defined scale or structure.
What kind of relationships does "below" describe?
"Below" describes physical relationships, like something being underneath another object, or quantitative relationships, like temperatures below zero.
Does "below" imply a permanent position?
"Below" does not necessarily imply permanence but rather positions one item or figure relative to another at a particular moment or in a specific context.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
