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
- underestimation noun
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
NAEP Test Words
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When Stars Are Scattered
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The Miracle Worker
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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.
Traders should not underestimate what a long weekend could bring.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
Sports underestimate their human elements, the tics and oddities that make them unique.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
The Iranian capacity for responding with with its drone capabilities is limited, he believes, and people underestimate the destruction wreaked by America’s B-52 bombers.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026
Never underestimate the passion of Brazil, which helped power “I’m Still Here” to a win here last year.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026
“Don’t underestimate him. Reyna’s not so bad by herself, but if Octavian shares her power...”
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
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.
