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
The Seattle fatalism says every Mariners prospect is doomed to underachieve, or flame out.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 5, 2022
The Browns have six Pro Bowl players on offense and four on defense, and with Kevin Stefanski as coach, they won’t underachieve like they did last year.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 9, 2020
The days of watching the Bruins underachieve are likely dwindling with Chip Kelly now at UCLA.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 13, 2017
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
England have underachieved in global tournaments since 2017 and will start this one no better than third favourites behind Australia and India.
From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026
Arsenal have underachieved under manager Mikel Arteta in the past three years, says former captain Thierry Henry.
From BBC ● May 28, 2025
“We are all here today because we underachieved in 2023,” Schneider said.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 16, 2024
The loss dropped the Chargers to 5-8 and likely ended whatever limited playoff chances remained for a team that has vastly underachieved this season, leading to wide-spread speculation of sweeping changes in the coming months.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2023
The writer-director Jordan Firstman knows his new movie is part of a tradition: films where underachieving men are forced to grow up after a child arrives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2026
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
Mark: Did you think that they'd been underachieving as a group?
From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026
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.
