underrated
Americanadjective
verb
Usage
What does underrated mean? If you call something underrated, it means you think the general opinion about it is lower than it should be. Underrated is an adjective, but is also the past tense of the verb underrate. It is somewhat more common to call something underrated than to say that people underrate it, but both are used. The opposite of underrated is overrated, which is perhaps more commonly used. Example: I think Brussels sprouts are an underrated food.
Etymology
Origin of underrated
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.
It’s an underrated, retro way to discover songs you’ve never heard, songs by artists you love, and songs by artists you forgot you love.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
The fishing: The upper Potomac River near Leesburg is one of the more underrated fisheries on the East Coast, known for its smallmouth bass.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
MarketWatch Picks: The 2 most underrated retirement moves, according to Edelman’s chief financial planner.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026
Downloading an album in-service for $10 might be an underrated way to support artists directly, and own the music.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
But if the quiet parts are filler, maybe filler’s underrated.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
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.
