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

State officials awarded the contract in 2019 despite concerns about Optum’s record after the company underbid the incumbent contractor, Beacon Health Options, by $72.1 million.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 28, 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

Academic jobs—especially in such “useless” fields as English, history, philosophy, and the foreign languages—are so scarce, and seekers so desperate, that if underbidding became standard practice, the winning underbid would always be zero.

From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2015

Even then their prices are certain to be exorbitant, and with Gerald Hamer's list I am certain I can underbid them.

From Harper's Round Table, April 30, 1895 by Various

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

He could just broker the deals, finding the cheapest prices and underbidding the competition.

From Slate ● Dec. 30, 2011

The literary men of Europe are recklessly underbidding each other in the attempt to show742 that life is sadder, or meaner, or baser, or emptier than had been supposed.

From The Arena Volume 4, No. 24, November, 1891 by Flower, B. O. (Benjamin Orange)