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
Or perhaps it will get past the opening round but still underachieve.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 21, 2019
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
Cowboys comments: After the Week One loss, the Cowboys looked destined to underachieve once again.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 9, 2014
Arsenal have underachieved under manager Mikel Arteta in the past three years, says former captain Thierry Henry.
From BBC ● May 28, 2025
The team has massively underachieved during his time here, and this season looked to be no exception.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 3, 2024
“We are all here today because we underachieved in 2023,” Schneider said.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 16, 2024
The Chargers have underachieved and underwhelmed their way to three games under .500, a sunken position that has all but mathematically buried their playoff hopes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 30, 2023
Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has overseen a unit that has underachieved this year, making him a poor fit for the role of interim coach.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 20, 2023
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
Until January though he has to get a tune out of an underachieving, underperforming squad and work out his priorities for that next transfer window.
From BBC ● Nov. 28, 2024
The Angels made the first trade of the offseason Thursday, acquiring slugger Jorge Soler for underachieving starting pitcher Griffin Canning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2024
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
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.
