underestimate

verb

un·​der·​es·​ti·​mate ˌən-dər-ˈe-stə-ˌmāt 

underestimated; underestimating; underestimates

transitive verb

1

: to estimate as being less than the actual size, quantity, or number

2

: to place too low a value on : underrate

underestimate

ˌən-dər-ˈe-stə-mət 

noun

underestimation

ˌən-dər-ˌe-stə-ˈmā-shən 

noun

Synonyms

• underrate
• undervalue

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

Two years before this, Purdue warned the U.S. not to underestimate China's determination to win the space war. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

Even those alarming figures underestimate the true danger. —Sharon Lerner and Al Shaw, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024

Last but not least, software performance is not to be underestimated. —Samuel Mueller, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

What’s happening in Pakistan is the latest sign that energy authorities are underestimating how much clean power the world demands — and that energy models can suffer from the same biases as their makers. —Noah Gordon, Vox, 1 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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

underestimate

-mət 

noun

underestimation

-ˌres-tə-ˈmā-shən 

noun