underestimate

[uhn-der-es-tuh-meyt, uhn-der-es-tuh-mit, -meyt]

verb (used with object)

underestimated, underestimating 

1. to estimate at too low a value, rate, or the like.

   Synonyms: miscalculate, misjudge, underrate, undervalue

verb (used without object)

underestimated, underestimating 

1. to make an estimate lower than that which would be correct.

noun

1. an estimate that is too low.

underestimate

/ ˌʌndərˈɛstɪˌmeɪt /

verb

1. to make too low an estimate of

   he underestimated the cost

2. to think insufficiently highly of

   to underestimate a person

noun

1. too low an estimate

Usage

Underestimate is sometimes wrongly used where overestimate is meant: the importance of his work cannot be overestimated (not cannot be underestimated )

Other Word Forms

• underestimation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underestimate¹

First recorded in 1805–15; under- + estimate

Example Sentences

And his abilities cannot be underestimated, even as former Australia forward Aaron Woods and other pundits from outside the UK have provided fuel for Wane's squad with withering comments about their quality.

Read more on BBC

"The government underestimated the impact that the real economy has on daily life, social sentiment, and consequently on electoral sentiment," said Oliveto.

Read more on Barron's

Democrats shouldn’t underestimate the challenges they’ll face between now and the midterm elections next November.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“This means that the places with the highest needs are becoming the very places where the county’s official count is most underestimated,” said the report, released Wednesday.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Moscow both overestimated the Wagner Group’s strength as a power in Africa, now in shambles, and underestimated its potential to threaten the Russian government, as it did with an aborted coup.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• belittle 
• miscalculate 
• underrate 
• undervalue