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underdo

American  
[uhn-der-doo] / ˌʌn dərˈdu /

verb (used with or without object)

underdid, underdone, underdoing
  1. to do less or in a lesser fashion than is usual or requisite.


Etymology

Origin of underdo

First recorded in 1605–15; under- + do 1


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:

I hope I don’t overdo it or underdo it,’” Mirren says, speaking alongside McKellen at the Corinthia Hotel in London.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2019

We don’t want her to underdo her job.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 25, 2015

“All authentication in the end is about being risk-based. You don’t want to overdo security because that can create user burdens, but you don’t want to underdo it because that creates risk.”

From Slate ● Jul. 10, 2015

Sometimes the local people overdo the publicity, and sometimes they underdo it.

From Time Magazine Archive

He doesn't want the fellows to underdo; and he doesn't want them to overdo; and he keeps an eye on every boy in the school.

From Dick Randall The Young Athlete by Ellery H. Clark

“We underdid it in the great financial crisis, so we overdid it here,” said Patrick Harker, who was president of the Philadelphia Fed for a decade before stepping down last June.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026

Certainly if there were any fault in Mr Codlin's usual deportment, it was that he rather underdid his kindness to those about him, than overdid it.

From The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens

Powell, as well, said that even though "the risks of sort of overdoing it and underdoing it are getting closer to being balanced," the focus remains on inflation.

From Reuters ● Jun. 16, 2023

Flanker Jamie Ritchie is out for the tournament after underdoing surgery on the hamstring injury suffered in last weekend's opening win over England.

From BBC ● Feb. 10, 2022

“The historical record is thick with examples of underdoing it,” Powell responded.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 29, 2021

“The risk of overdoing it is less than the risk of underdoing it,” Mr. Powell said.

From New York Times ● Dec. 1, 2020

Doing right is opposed to overdoing the thing, and to underdoing it.

From Moral Philosophy by Joseph Rickaby, S.J.

They believe the man, who got a tapeworm from eating underdone pork, infected himself.

From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2024

It's amazing how a few batches of underdone cookies or a still-too-warm cake with the icing sliding off the sides can push even the most impatient people to slow down, if only for a moment.

From Salon ● Feb. 5, 2022

Even noodles that you plan to pan-fry into a crispy “noodle pillow,” as Nguyen puts it, before adding toppings can stand to be a little underdone.

From Washington Post ● May 24, 2021

“He comes in a little bit underdone but I’m fortunate he’s a guy who can light it up when he needs to and I think he’s a guy that this format will suit.”

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 21, 2019

The rabbit was a shade underdone, but tasted wonderful.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

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