lowest
Loading your saved state.
lowest
Located at the lowest place or position; the last one in a vertical arrangement. It is the superlative form of 'unter' (under/below).
Die Bücher für die Kinder stehen im untersten Regal.
The books for the children are on the lowest shelf.
'Unterst' (lowest) is the superlative form derived from the preposition 'unter' (under/below). The progression is: 'unter' (position) → 'untere' (comparative adjective/lower) → 'unterst' (superlative adjective/lowest).
Die Signatur des Künstlers befindet sich in der untersten Ecke des Bildes.
The artist's signature is in the lowest corner of the picture.
As a superlative, 'unterst' is almost always used attributively with a declared ending, that is, before a noun, e.g. 'der unterste Knopf' (the lowest button). It can also be used with 'am': 'am untersten Punkt' (at the lowest point).
Bitte nimm das Buch aus dem untersten Fach.
Please take the book from the lowest compartment.
In its literal meaning, 'unterst' (lowest) is often combined with vertical or stacked things. Typical examples are: 'das unterste Regal' (the lowest shelf), 'die unterste Schublade' (the lowest drawer), 'der unterste Stock' (the lowest floor).
Meine Wohnung liegt im untersten Stockwerk des Gebäudes.
My apartment is on the lowest floor of the building.
In a figurative sense, 'unterst' is used to describe a very low level. A very common fixed expression is 'unterste Schublade' (lowest drawer), which refers to very bad or primitive behavior.
Seine beleidigenden Kommentare waren wirklich unterste Schublade.
His insulting comments were really the lowest of the low.
under
'unter' and 'unterst' both have to do with a low position. 'unter' is a preposition and normally needs a reference word: something is 'unter dem Tisch' (under the table) or 'unter einer Leitung' (under a line/pipe). It can also express a lower position in an order or hierarchy. 'unterst' is an adjective and describes the lowest place in a row or layer, for example 'die unterste Schublade' (the lowest drawer). The words can be confused because both mean 'down below'. Pay attention to the grammar: 'unter' connects two things, while 'unterst' describes one thing more precisely.
Im Koffer liegt das Handtuch ganz unten in der untersten Schicht.
In the suitcase, the towel is right at the bottom in the lowest layer.
Im Büro liegt das Ladekabel unter dem Schreibtisch.
In the office, the charging cable is under the desk.