underrated
Americanadjective
verb
Usage
What does underrated mean? If you call something underrated, it means you think the general opinion about it is lower than it should be. Underrated is an adjective, but is also the past tense of the verb underrate. It is somewhat more common to call something underrated than to say that people underrate it, but both are used. The opposite of underrated is overrated, which is perhaps more commonly used. Example: I think Brussels sprouts are an underrated food.
Etymology
Origin of underrated
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The rub here is that there’s a difference between a film that becomes a cult classic because it’s genuinely underrated, and one that achieves that status through the unholy, rose-colored lens of social media obsession.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
“Lioness” and “MobLand” are violent fun, “Colin From Accounts” is terrific, ”Diarra From Detroit” is an underrated gem and the sports lineup is solid.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
This city may be the South’s most underrated getaway.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
His passing skills are also somewhat underrated because he is the embodiment of a dribble-first winger.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
But if the quiet parts are filler, maybe filler’s underrated.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
