underestimate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
underestimates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
underestimated,
past participle, past
-
underestimating
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
underestimates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
underestimated,
past participle, past
-
underestimating
present participle
noun
-
underestimates
plural
verb
-
to make too low an estimate of
he underestimated the cost
-
to think insufficiently highly of
to underestimate a person
noun
Usage
Underestimate is sometimes wrongly used where overestimate is meant: the importance of his work cannot be overestimated (not cannot be underestimated )
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
underestimatesimple
-
underestimatessimple
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have underestimatedperfect
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has underestimatedperfect
-
am underestimatingprogressive
-
are underestimatingprogressive
-
is underestimatingprogressive
-
have been underestimatingperfect progressive
-
has been underestimatingperfect progressive
Past
-
underestimatedsimple
-
had underestimatedperfect
-
was underestimatingprogressive
-
were underestimatingprogressive
-
had been underestimatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of underestimate
Explanation
To underestimate is to guess that something is worth less or is smaller than it really is. You might underestimate the size of a one-pound hamburger until you realize it's too big to fit in your stomach. When you "estimate" you take a guess at something, and when you underestimate, your guess falls short or below. If you underestimate how much something costs, you might show up at a store without enough money, and if you underestimate the strength of an opponent who is small, you might find yourself on the ground wondering what hit you. Often when we "assume" something, we make a guess based on how things appear — that's one way to underestimate.
Vocabulary lists containing underestimate
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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:
MarketWatch spoke to a variety of experts, from contractors to economists, to identify some of the most common hidden costs of owning a home that new homeowners can miss or underestimate.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026
Infiniti: Something that I realized when I was probably about 13 or 14 is, I used to be very upset when people would underestimate me.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Artem Abramov, deputy head of analysis at Rystad Energy, suspects that the Alpines underestimate how AI could accelerate the improvement of low-carbon technologies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
These meals often contain more fat, which the apps tended to underestimate consistently.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
Hazel made a mental note not to underestimate Percy again.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
The government estimates, and most likely underestimates, that Americans spend about 12 billion hours a year on federal paperwork.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
That there are really only two options for communication vastly underestimates dogs’ communicative potential.
From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2026
“We believe the Street still underestimates the sustainability of margin recovery,” Tarlowe writes, adding $3 to his price target, to $245, and reiterating a Buy rating.
From Barron's ● May 18, 2026
Bivens said, if anything, looking at strictly the tariffs collected underestimates the increased prices paid by consumers.
From Salon ● Apr. 15, 2026
“Never underestimate a Swanburne girl,” she repeated uncertainly, “for a Swanburne girl never underestimates herself.”
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Papatiti fears that the death toll is being underestimated and that the affliction may also be affecting elephants in neighbouring Tanzania.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
But from being underestimated, I remember my dad being like, “You have to get comfortable with ‘no.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
The apps also underestimated fat by approximately 30 grams.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
They say the return on capex is being underestimated rather than overstated, and the earnings strength is broader than the handful of companies usually associated with it.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
“It seems we may have underestimated Fredrick,” she said to Mater Lumley.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Post believes that Wall Street is underestimating the social-media giant’s ability to monetize its AI assets, including frontier models and custom chips.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
Imagine “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” with automatic weapons, or “The Honeymooners” with an actual moon shot, and you’ll still be underestimating the domestic rancor of the horror-comedy “Over Your Dead Body.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Harrison admitted to underestimating the backlash from fans but defended the trade, initially saying he had “no regrets.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
All of that leads him to believe that, even with the shares up about 36% year to date, investors are still underestimating the stock.
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
Funny, he knew Leon was in a precarious position and yet there was always the danger of underestimating him.
From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier
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.
