underestimate

[ verb uhn-der-es-tuh-meyt; noun uhn-der-es-tuh-mit, -meyt ]

verb (used with object)

, un·der·es·ti·mat·ed, un·der·es·ti·mat·ing.

1. to estimate at too low a value, rate, or the like.

   Synonyms: miscalculate, misjudge, underrate, undervalue

verb (used without object)

, un·der·es·ti·mat·ed, un·der·es·ti·mat·ing.

1. to make an estimate lower than that which would be correct.

noun

1. an estimate that is too low.

underestimate

/ ˌʌndərˈɛstɪˌmeɪt /

verb

1. to make too low an estimate of

   he underestimated the cost

2. to think insufficiently highly of

   to underestimate a person

noun

1. too low an estimate

Usage

Underestimate is sometimes wrongly used where overestimate is meant: the importance of his work cannot be overestimated (not cannot be underestimated )

Derived Forms

• ˌunderˌestiˈmation, noun

Other Words From

• under·esti·mation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underestimate¹

First recorded in 1805–15; under- + estimate

Example Sentences

Such counts are widely believed to underestimate the true number of homeless people.

From Los Angeles Times

The Home Office underestimated how many zombie knives and machetes would be surrendered ahead of a recent ban, documents show.

From BBC

"I underestimated people's appetite for the ludicrous, maybe."

From BBC

It could underestimate the size of the problem, as gynaecology patients are less likely to be waiting for two appointments than patients in some other specialities.

From BBC

The results imply that drought vulnerability analyses relying only on the historical streamflow record may severely underestimate the magnitude of potential drought events and their impacts on water storage, agriculture and municipal water supply.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• belittle
• miscalculate
• underrate
• undervalue