underperform

[ uhn-der-per-fawrm ]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to perform less well than (another of its kind, a general average, etc.) or less well than expected:

   Surprisingly, the stock has underperformed the market indexes all year. Several of our best players consistently underperform.

Other Words From

• under·per·formance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underperform¹

under- + perform

Example Sentences

The snowfall underperformed in the first phase as the parent storm over Ohio quickly faded, allowing dry air to infiltrate the Mid-Atlantic.

From Washington Post

They underperform it because it is really hard for anyone to consistently beat the market, no matter how smart you are.

From Vox

Their underlying numbers are really not that bad — and that’s despite Werner, Pulisic and Havertz all underperforming to varying degrees.

From FiveThirtyEight

The best way to assess which title tags are underperforming is by going to Google Search Console and downloading your query data.

From Search Engine Watch

He will bring size, obviously, but also a veteran presence to a blue line that underperformed last season.

From Washington Post

If insurers underperform by 3-8 percent, the government will cover half the extra cost.

From The Daily Beast

Despite the hype over gentrification, urban economies—including that of New York—still underperform their periphery.

From The Daily Beast

Year in and year out, most professional money managers underperform the market.

From The Daily Beast

When fund assets underperform, taxpayers must make up the difference.

From The Daily Beast

Investment risk is the risk that your savings will underperform; savings risk is the risk that you'll save too little.

From The Daily Beast