underestimate

[ verb uhn-der-es-tuh-meyt; noun uhn-der-es-tuh-mit, -meyt ]

verb (used with object)

, un·der·es·ti·mat·ed, un·der·es·ti·mat·ing.

1. to estimate at too low a value, rate, or the like.

   Synonyms: miscalculate, misjudge, underrate, undervalue

verb (used without object)

, un·der·es·ti·mat·ed, un·der·es·ti·mat·ing.

1. to make an estimate lower than that which would be correct.

noun

1. an estimate that is too low.

underestimate

/ ˌʌndərˈɛstɪˌmeɪt /

verb

1. to make too low an estimate of

   he underestimated the cost

2. to think insufficiently highly of

   to underestimate a person

noun

1. too low an estimate

Usage

Underestimate is sometimes wrongly used where overestimate is meant: the importance of his work cannot be overestimated (not cannot be underestimated )

Derived Forms

• ˌunderˌestiˈmation, noun

Other Words From

• under·esti·mation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underestimate¹

First recorded in 1805–15; under- + estimate

Example Sentences

This is also likely an underestimate of Filipino cases, since many speak English.

From Voice of San Diego

To read the charts below, consider the 0% line as the actual traffic, and any number over 0% as an overestimate by the tool, and anything under as an underestimate.

From Search Engine Land

Instead, the country has seen at least 193,000 deaths, a figure that is probably an underestimate.

From Washington Post

The team noticed similar underestimates in models of the 2019 heat waves in Europe.

From Science News For Students

States also vary in how and where they are performing tests, and some count only proven cases and not also presumptive ones, leading to significant underestimates of the death toll.

From No Straight News

Democrats would be mistaken to underestimate Mike Huckabee, perhaps the strongest Republican presidential contender.

From The Daily Beast

She really becomes the image of someone you might underestimate or take for granted.

From The Daily Beast

I think people also underestimate how much we really do write it all in six days.

From The Daily Beast

Yet such rankings vastly underestimate the power now being wielded by the San Francisco region.

From The Daily Beast

These numbers, although startling, are thought to “vastly underestimate” the reality.

From The Daily Beast

Lawyers always underestimate the legal knowledge of an intelligent layman.

From Project Gutenberg

"Do not underestimate my intelligence, I understand you," he laughed.

From Project Gutenberg

It would however be a serious error to underestimate the value of the earlier work in plant histology.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a pity that the critic is unable to contend with him on such a point without appearing to underestimate that work.

From Project Gutenberg

These men represented the batting strength of Place, and Ken, though he did not in the least underestimate them, had no fear.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• belittle
• miscalculate
• underrate
• undervalue