overestimate

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

/ verb ˌoʊ vərˈɛs təˌmeɪt; noun ˈoʊ vərˈɛs tə mɪt /

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See synonyms for: overestimate / overestimated on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), o·ver·es·ti·mat·ed, o·ver·es·ti·mat·ing.

to estimate at too high a value, amount, rate, or the like: Don't overestimate the car's trade-in value.

to hold in too great esteem or to expect too much from: Don't overestimate him—he's no smarter than you are.

noun

an estimate that is too high.

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Origin of overestimate

First recorded in 1815–25; over- + estimate

OTHER WORDS FROM overestimate

o·ver·es·ti·ma·tion, noun

Words nearby overestimate

overegg, overelaborate, overemphasis, overemphasize, overenthusiastic, overestimate, overexcite, overexcited, overexert, overexertion, overexpansion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use overestimate in a sentence

Climate change is interfering with how researchers count bonobos, possibly leading to gross overestimates of the endangered apes, a new study suggests.
Climate change may be leading to overcounts of endangered bonobos|Pratik Pawar|July 19, 2021|Science News
People also have a tendency to overestimate how moral they have been.
It’s Official: Religion Doesn’t Make You More Moral|Elizabeth Picciuto|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Say that survey findings are a 1% overestimate of the true incidence.
Guns Don't Make You Safer, Ctd.|David Frum|December 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In this sort of case you would always rather overestimate than underestimate.
How Will the Tri-State Area Rebuild After Sandy?|Megan McArdle|November 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Both men and women overestimate inflation, but women tend to overestimate it much more.
Women Notice Inflation More than Men|Megan McArdle|November 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Americans tend to radically overestimate the benefits of "soft power" or "leading by example".
Ask the Blogger: How About That Election?|Megan McArdle|November 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The sequel proved that he did not overestimate the time, but the process cost considerable bloodshed.
Reminiscences of the Guilford Grays, Co. B., 27th N.C. Regiment|John A. Sloan
It would be hard to overestimate the importance of the primitive dance in the culture development of mankind.
Introduction to the Science of Sociology|Robert E. Park
It is hard to overestimate the important part that company has played in the conduct of the Mesopotamian campaign.
War in the Garden of Eden|Kermit Roosevelt
It is impossible to overestimate the ethnologic importance of the materials thus obtained.
The Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees|James Mooney
All the village was astir over the ball, as well as the Leverich house; it was impossible to overestimate its importance.
The Wayfarers|Mary Stewart Cutting

British Dictionary definitions for overestimate

overestimate

verb (ˌəʊvərˈɛstɪˌmeɪt)

(tr) to value or estimate too highly

noun (ˌəʊvərˈɛstɪmɪt)

an estimate that is too high

Derived forms of overestimate

overestimation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

overestimate

Origin of overestimate

OTHER WORDS FROM overestimate

Words nearby overestimate

Words related to overestimate

How to use overestimate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for overestimate

Derived forms of overestimate