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

The power of TikTok is not to be underestimated - with 175 million monthly active TikTok users in Europe, videos on the app have contributed to some of this year's most viral trends.

From BBC

A significant question facing pollsters this year – their great known unknown – was whether modifications made to sampling techniques would allow them to avoid underestimating Trump’s support, as they had in 2016 and 2020.

From Salon

"You can’t underestimate the power of following the prime minister into his division lobby, even if it was a free vote," they say.

From BBC

A new study warns that current plans to achieve zero emissions on the grid by 2050 vastly underestimate the required investments in generation and transmission infrastructure.

From Science Daily

Even now, we probably underestimate the effect on that generation of cricketers.

From BBC

Related Words

• belittle
• miscalculate
• underrate
• undervalue