1. perform tasks or be employed for/by somebody, operate or function in a certain state (of mind)
Professional
Social
work under my boss, work under pressure
When you 'work under' someone you are employed by them or instructed by them. You can work under a manager, a supervisor, a professor or an organisation. This is another way of saying you 'work for' someone or a good expression to use if you want to make the hierarchy of your workplace clear. You might also say you 'work well under pressure', meaning you can perform well even in stressful conditions. You will hear this phrase mainly used in professional contexts.