underestimate
verb
un·der·es·ti·mate
ˌən-dər-ˈe-stə-ˌmāt 
underestimated; underestimating; underestimates
1
: to estimate as being less than the actual size, quantity, or number
2
: to place too low a value on : underrate
Examples of underestimate in a Sentence
The city underestimated the cost of the new building.
The number of people in the crowd was underestimated by 5,000.
Never underestimate the importance of a good education.
Her talent has always been underestimated.
Recent Examples on the Web
Never underestimate your toiletry bag.
—
Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
Other foods beyond these 19 may also expose people to PFAS, so the totals may underestimate the actual intake.
—Jiameng Zheng, The Conversation, 4 Sep. 2025
Teams coming from traditional finance often underestimate how fast narratives shift in cryptocurrency.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Lead author and pharmacist professor Luke Grzeskowiak of Australia's Flinders University, said the findings underscore how often hyperemesis gravidarum is underestimated or dismissed.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underestimate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
Other foods beyond these 19 may also expose people to PFAS, so the totals may underestimate the actual intake.
—Jiameng Zheng, The Conversation, 4 Sep. 2025
Teams coming from traditional finance often underestimate how fast narratives shift in cryptocurrency.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Lead author and pharmacist professor Luke Grzeskowiak of Australia's Flinders University, said the findings underscore how often hyperemesis gravidarum is underestimated or dismissed.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underestimate
Cite this Entry
“Underestimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underestimate. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
underestimate
verb
un·der·es·ti·mate
ˌən-də-ˈres-tə-ˌmāt
1
: to estimate as being less than the actual size, quantity, or number
underestimate the cost of a new building
2
: to place too low a value on : underrate
underestimate an opponent
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share