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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

"Consciously underdo," advises exercise physiologist Carl Foster of the University of Wisconsin--La Crosse.

From Time Magazine Archive

A young fellow should be ambitious to shine in everything; and, of the two, rather overdo than underdo.

From A Letter Book Selected with an Introduction on the History and Art of Letter-Writing by George Saintsbury

“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

More than a year after tearing a knee ligament and underdoing surgery, Rubio is expected to make his season debut Thursday night when Cleveland visits the Portland Trail Blazers.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 11, 2023

But Fed officials are also worried about underdoing it.

From New York Times ● Jan. 11, 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

Overdoing in one direction must be compensated by underdoing in another.

From A New Atmosphere by Gail Hamilton

Culturally different, but geographically close, the two countries have collaborated on border security and counter-terrorism, and share a nervousness about the rise of China, but the commercial relationship has been underdone.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2022

The judges nitpick about the bok choy being a little underdone, but they love the broth.

From Salon ● Apr. 6, 2022

That said, even underdone doughnuts fare better in the company of vanilla ice cream, chopped walnuts, thyme-laced honey and a heady chaser of spiced chilled chocolate milk.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 10, 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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