underachieve
Americanverb (used without object)
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to perform, especially academically, below the potential indicated by tests of one's mental ability or aptitude.
-
to perform below expectations or achieve less than expected, especially by others.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of underachieve
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.
See Examples For:
There has been particular concern that Protestant males from low-income backgrounds underachieve at school.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2024
Schiano’s Ohio State defenses went on to underachieve by the standards of their immense talent advantage.
From Slate ● May 12, 2021
He took over a team led by guards Lewis, John Petty and Herbert Jones that seemed to underachieve last season.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 24, 2019
K-State is more likely to overachieve this season and finish in the top 10 than underachieve and wind up unranked.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 22, 2017
There was some fluctuation, but year after year, the same teams seemed to over- and underachieve.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 28, 2016
But in college, first at Arizona State then as a graduate student at Notre Dame, he underachieved.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
“I don’t think we underachieved last year and this year is still going,” Roberts said in Atlanta on Monday before the team’s loss to the Dream.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Michael: It's not really to say whether they achieved or underachieved.
From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026
Three-time winners Saracens have underachieved in Europe over the past few seasons and found themselves needing points from their final two tricky pool games.
From BBC ● Jan. 11, 2026
He also has held himself accountable for the Seahawks’ defensive shortcomings, saying in December that they have greatly underachieved on that side of the ball and that he’s part of it.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 21, 2024
As many England fans would testify, Gareth Southgate took on an England team that was seen as underachieving, and restored a degree of national pride to the game.
From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2025
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says criticism from legendary former players is to be expected because the club is "underachieving".
From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2025
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 ● Aug. 6, 2025
But it is a testament to the uneven and underachieving history of the Padres that four people with ties to the team could not agree when “Beat L.A.” became a big deal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2024
As if Ethan—world’s most underachieving online creeper—had anything to do with this breakthrough.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
