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.
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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
The Angels have Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Anthony Rendon and will still probably find a way to underachieve.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 4, 2022
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
Despite huge investments in the nation’s professional men’s league and support for the sport that borders on fanatical, China continues to underachieve on the international stage.
From Slate ● Dec. 12, 2014
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
It was Sabalenka's fifth defeat from nine majors final and provides further weight to the argument that she has underachieved at the biggest tournaments given her dominance on the WTA Tour.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
Michael: It's not really to say whether they achieved or underachieved.
From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026
In the eyes of the program’s most fervent supporters, the team has underachieved.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 30, 2025
“We are all here today because we underachieved in 2023,” Schneider said.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 16, 2024
Fans chanted this month for the firing of football coach Lincoln Riley — after years of underachieving — though the Trojans have defeated Washington and Penn State after an Oregon loss.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
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
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 ● May 27, 2025
The Lakers aren’t going to buy out LeBron James’ contract or trade Anthony Davis, so fans better get used to the team underachieving in the playoffs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 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.
