underestimate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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
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underestimatessimple
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have underestimatedperfect
-
has underestimatedperfect
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am underestimatingprogressive
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are underestimatingprogressive
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is underestimatingprogressive
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have been underestimatingperfect progressive
-
has been underestimatingperfect progressive
Past
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underestimatedsimple
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had underestimatedperfect
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was underestimatingprogressive
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were underestimatingprogressive
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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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When Stars Are Scattered
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Out of My Mind
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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:
These meals often contain more fat, which the apps tended to underestimate consistently.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
Romero has her own advice — never underestimate the power of the vote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
"I think people wildly underestimate the level of sensitive information that in-home recordings would pick up," she said.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
“Never underestimate stock traders’ willingness to step into any breach in tech stocks’ upward momentum,” wrote Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
“Don’t underestimate yourself, faranji,” Ruza had replied, his voice full of assurance.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
“Their greatest advantage is that the Western world underestimates them.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
That there are really only two options for communication vastly underestimates dogs’ communicative potential.
From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2026
Everyone underestimates Ashley’s intelligence and Austin’s willingness to sell out justice to ensure they’ll get ahead.
From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2026
In younger adults, focusing on short-term risk often underestimates the probability that they can get sick later in life.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 19, 2026
“Never underestimate a Swanburne girl,” she repeated uncertainly, “for a Swanburne girl never underestimates herself.”
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Along with the sustainable growth and “operational excellence,” Nelson looks for companies for which it appears growth rates are being underestimated.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
The apps also underestimated fat by approximately 30 grams.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
Yet today she seems perhaps a little underestimated.
From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2026
A senior Labour figure told me: "She'd underestimated the desire for radical change, and lacked political nous on key decisions like winter fuel."
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
He had underestimated just how well read and well informed Mr. Larson was.
From "The Landry News" by Andrew Clements
“The market is underestimating the breadth of XPeng’s AI ambitions but could be overestimating how quickly this can translate into earnings,” Hsiao said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 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
Advanced Micro Devices is currently getting a boost from the surge in demand for central processing units, but one analyst thinks Wall Street is underestimating another major opportunity for the company.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 12, 2026
"I'm glad he's underestimating me," Prenga said, insisting he will show Joshua no respect when the opening bell rings.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
After a few weeks my fevers became more pronounced, and my mother realized that because I am large and active for my age she’d been underestimating my dosage of quinine.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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.
