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Glite Dictionary
underground scene

underground scene

1 7.5
A group of musicians and artists who work outside the mainstream, often in secret
  • noun
  • /ˈʌndərˌɡraʊnd siːn/
translation icon : escena underground
  • As for the "slam poet" reference, I usually write under musical influence (the old NYC underground scene being a past I usually visit).

Examples

  • The powerviolence scene is the coming together of many hardcore traditions and represents all kinds of bands with their hearts basically rooted in the underground scene.

    Blog text (24)

  • Right now they are still part of the underground scene.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Suddenly we were introduced to this underground scene where there were all these other people doing what we did, having fun and no one cared.

    Blog text (30)

  • I feel like my musical personality was forged in high school in the death metal and punk rock underground scenes.

    Blog text (2)

  • The artist gained recognition within the underground scene for her unique approach to painting, which challenged conventional styles.

  • Many musicians who thrive in the underground scene often prefer intimate venues where they can connect directly with their audience.

  • He discovered a vibrant underground scene filled with experimental theatre and avant-garde performances that he had never encountered before.

Synonyms

subculture
vsunderground scene
28 5.4

A group inside a larger society with different values or interests

tends to operate secretly or obscurely outside mainstream arts and society

How Underground

underground scene
1 7.5
indie
  • Informal
30 6.7
mainstreamy
  • Informal
9.1

Surface Forms

underground scene singular
underground scenes plural

Morphology

underground + scene

The meaning 'a subculture or movement outside mainstream society' is directly derivable from combining 'underground' (hidden, clandestine) with 'scene' (a community or sphere of activity); the adjective+noun composition transparently yields a hidden/alternative community. This compositional pattern is common cross‑linguistically and follows standard English morphology, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will very likely infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Underground scene comes from a simple picture: musicians and artists playing in basements or cellars, places really underground and away from big stages. Those hidden places form a small scene where people share new ideas, so underground scene means a group or culture 'outside the mainstream' and often a bit 'secret'.