underbid

American  

[uhn-der-bid] / ˌʌn dərˈbɪd /

verb (used with object)

underbid, underbidding

1. to bid less than (another bid) or less than the bid of (another bidder), especially in seeking a contract to be awarded to the lowest bid or bidder; make an offer at a lower price than.

2. Cards. to bid less than the value or worth of (a contract or hand).

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verb (used without object)

underbid, underbidding

1. to bid lower than another or too low for the value of something.

underbid British  

/ ˌʌndəˈbɪd /

verb

1. to submit a bid lower than that of (others)

   Irena underbid the other dealers

2. to submit an excessively low bid for

3. bridge to make a bid that will win fewer tricks than is justified by the strength of the hand

   he underbid his hand

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Other Word Forms

• underbidder
  noun

Etymology

Origin of underbid

First recorded in 1585–95; under- + bid ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

underbid underbidding

Saint Francis had been exceeding Nebraska’s caseload requirements and ultimately conceded that it had underbid its contract with the state.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 16, 2022

The proposal also covers bids in public tenders in order to prevent the use of foreign subsidies to grow market share or underbid European rivals to gain access to strategically important markets or critical infrastructure.

From Reuters ● Jun. 1, 2022

He found that people underbid by less in so-called English auctions, in which prices start low and are raised, than in Dutch auctions, where they start high and are reduced.

From New York Times ● Oct. 12, 2020

Some of its pork plants kill more than 1,000 pigs an hour, enabling JBS to operate off a slimmer profit margin and underbid other companies for the bailout contracts.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 4, 2019

The bidder would be afraid somebody would get at those figures and go and underbid him.

From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 10 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Legal by Ingersoll, Robert Green

At one infamous 2013 meeting, a group of private college presidents mused over a voluntary laying down of arms on merit aid so there wouldn’t be so much underbidding.

From New York Times ● Jan. 18, 2024

Critics contend the company has been able to secure the deals by dramatically underbidding competitors due to subsidies from Beijing.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 11, 2019

Applicants might win jobs by underbidding the competition, but they are apt to saddle themselves with a wage well below the market rate.

From Time ● Jun. 12, 2012

Sanitation at the base is handled by a private company, Sanco Enterprises SA, which won the contract over the summer by underbidding a rival.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 19, 2010

The object of the secrecy is not to defraud the Government, but to prevent other people finding the amount of the bid and then underbidding.

From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 10 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Legal by Ingersoll, Robert Green