underachieve

[uhn-der-uh-cheev]

verb (used without object)

underachieved, underachieving 

1. to perform, especially academically, below the potential indicated by tests of one's mental ability or aptitude.

2. to perform below expectations or achieve less than expected, especially by others.

underachieve

/ ˌundərəˈtʃiːv /

verb

1. (intr) to fail to achieve a performance appropriate to one's age or talents

Other Word Forms

• underachievement noun
• underachiever noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underachieve¹

First recorded in 1950–55; under- + achieve

Example Sentences

And when describing her underachieving brother’s shortcomings, she says, “He’s got the brains of a dung beetle and the ambitions of a French bureaucrat.”

From Los Angeles Times

Like Newcastle, Tottenham are another underachieving team who have flirted with major honours in recent years without quite being able to get over the line.

From BBC

Some of the underachieving Rockies players don’t blame Black, whose even-keel temperament, attention to detail and empathetic communication skills made him a respected leader.

From Los Angeles Times

When she was first hired in August 2023, Cohen inherited an unstable department on its way to a new conference with an underachieving football program.

From Los Angeles Times

Or does he want to transform an underachieving team as Ohtani tried to do with the Angels?

From Los Angeles Times