Meaning
underlying, below
- located below or underneath something
- underlying; serving as a basis or foundation (figurative or financial)
In a sentence
Dalla terrazza si vede chiaramente la piazza sottostante.
From the terrace you can clearly see the square below.
Dobbiamo esaminare le cause sottostanti a questa crisi economica.
We must examine the underlying causes of this economic crisis.
L'inquilino del piano sottostante non ha sentito alcun rumore sospetto.
The tenant on the floor below did not hear any suspicious noise.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| sottostante | masculine · singular |
| sottostante | feminine · singular |
| sottostanti | masculine · plural |
| sottostanti | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Present participle of sottostare used as an adjective; ends in -e, plural is -i.
- Widely used in technical, administrative, and financial contexts (e.g., underlying asset).