underrated

American

[uhn-der-rey-tid] / ˌʌn dərˈreɪ tɪd /

adjective

rated or evaluated too low; underestimated or undervalued.

It’s an accomplished album from an underrated band, and will hopefully get them the recognition they deserve.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of underrate.

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

underrate ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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.

MarketWatch Picks: The 2 most underrated retirement moves, according to Edelman’s chief financial planner.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 25, 2026

Meanwhile, SAS could be “an underrated gem” as its subsidiary GlobalWafers is expanding globally to benefit from growing silicon wafer demand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026

Then comes the pico de gallo, which may be one of the most underrated grocery-store shortcuts of all time: tomatoes, onion, cilantro and jalapeños already chopped and ready to collapse into something savory.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

An All-ACC first-team player for an underrated Louisville team, Ziegler can pass and make threes.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

It was clear that Holly had not underrated their danger near Efrafa.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023