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underestimate

/ʌndɚˈɛs.tɪ.meɪt/noun, verb5 syllables

Underestimate means: an estimation that is too low; an estimate that is less than the true or actual value.

Synonyms for underestimate21

noun, as in an estimation that is too low; an estimate that is less than the true or actual value

underestimation, underrating, underreckoning

verb, as in assign too low a value to

undervalue

verb, as in make a deliberately low estimate

lowball

verb, as in make too low an estimate of

underrate

also used for underestimate

misjudge, misunderestimate, sell short, underapproximate, belittle, make light of, bagatellize, banalize, cut down, de-emphasize, denigrate, degrade, deprecate, underguess, underjudge

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Opposites of underestimate

overestimate

What does underestimate mean?4

noun

1

an estimation that is too low; an estimate that is less than the true or actual value

verb

1

assign too low a value to“Don't underestimate the value of this heirloom-you may sell it at a good price”

2

make a deliberately low estimate“The construction company wanted the contract badly and lowballed”

3

make too low an estimate of“he underestimated the work that went into the renovation”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Underestimate in a sentence

  • Many people do not realize, and often underestimate, the importance of good health.Adelpa
  • Never underestimate the power of the river, stay away.Amastan
  • Innovations will be grossly overestimated at first, but grossly underestimated in the long run.Theocracy
  • Their boundless optimism sometimes made them underestimate real dangers.rul
  • Never underestimate a man's determination to be free.Grim_fandango
  • People have a tendency to underestimate their future needs.megamanenm
  • Don't underestimate the incredible power of a simple smile and a kind word.patgfisher
  • Many people underestimate the importance of food for health and well-being.Adelpa

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of underestimate

as a noun

plural
underestimates

as a verb

past tense
underestimated
present participle
underestimating
third-person singular
underestimates
past participle
underestimated