overestimate

[ verb oh-ver-es-tuh-meyt; noun oh-ver-es-tuh-mit ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·es·ti·mat·ed, o·ver·es·ti·mat·ing.

1. to estimate at too high a value, amount, rate, or the like:

   Don't overestimate the car's trade-in value.

2. to hold in too great esteem or to expect too much from:

   Don't overestimate him—he's no smarter than you are.

noun

1. an estimate that is too high.

overestimate

verb

1. tr to value or estimate too highly

noun

1. an estimate that is too high

Derived Forms

• ˌoverˌestiˈmation, noun

Other Words From

• over·esti·mation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of overestimate¹

First recorded in 1815–25; over- + estimate

Example Sentences

Climate change is interfering with how researchers count bonobos, possibly leading to gross overestimates of the endangered apes, a new study suggests.

From Science News

People also have a tendency to overestimate how moral they have been.

From The Daily Beast

Say that survey findings are a 1% overestimate of the true incidence.

From The Daily Beast

In this sort of case you would always rather overestimate than underestimate.

From The Daily Beast

Both men and women overestimate inflation, but women tend to overestimate it much more.

From The Daily Beast

Americans tend to radically overestimate the benefits of "soft power" or "leading by example".

From The Daily Beast

The sequel proved that he did not overestimate the time, but the process cost considerable bloodshed.

From Project Gutenberg

It would be hard to overestimate the importance of the primitive dance in the culture development of mankind.

From Project Gutenberg

It is hard to overestimate the important part that company has played in the conduct of the Mesopotamian campaign.

From Project Gutenberg

It is impossible to overestimate the ethnologic importance of the materials thus obtained.

From Project Gutenberg

All the village was astir over the ball, as well as the Leverich house; it was impossible to overestimate its importance.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amplify
• distort
• emphasize
• fabricate
• falsify
• heighten
• inflate
• magnify
• misrepresent
• overdo
• overdraw
• overemphasize