underrate

American  

[uhn-der-reyt] / ˌʌn dərˈreɪt /

verb (used with object)

underrated, underrating

1. to rate or evaluate too low; underestimate.

---

underrate British  

/ ˌʌndəˈreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to underestimate

---

Etymology

Origin of underrate

First recorded in 1615–25; under- + rate ¹

Explanation

To underrate something is to underestimate its value. If critics underrate a great movie, they don't give it enough credit for its brilliant acting and well-written script. If most people underrate the Polish restaurant in your neighborhood, they'll be pleasantly surprised once they give it a try. High school football players tend to underrate the importance of gracefulness in their sport, and your math teacher may underrate the amount of time it takes you to do your calculus homework. The verb underrate has been around since the 1640's, although back then it was generally spelled with a hyphen: under-rate.

Example Sentences

Underrate, un-dėr-rāt′, v.t. to rate under the value.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

For talk, it may be stated thus:-- Never Underrate Your Interlocutor.

From How to Do It by Hale, Edward Everett

Underrate is a character I cannot avoid mentioning, though I wish with all my heart he was dead: his greatest pleasure consists in detracting from the good qualities of his neighbours.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 19, No. 532, February 4, 1832 by Various

Related Words

• underestimate
• underprice
• undervalue