overestimate

1 of 2

verb

over·​es·​ti·​mate ˌō-vər-ˈe-stə-ˌmāt 

overestimated; overestimating

transitive verb

: to estimate or value (someone or something) too highly

… the senator had been so responsible about his potential tax liabilities that he had substantially overestimated what he owed the government.

—David Burnham

… our habit of overestimating our knowledge and underestimating our ignorance …

—David A. Shaywitz

The emotional power of this reunion can't be overestimated.

—Joe Klein

"I mean that I am afraid I overestimated him. I don't think that he is a painter of the first rank."

—Henry James

overestimate

2 of 2

noun

over·​es·​ti·​mate ˌō-vər-ˈe-stə-mət 

plural overestimates

: an estimate that is too high

overestimates of the company's future profits

Diamond still attacks the growth projections that the utilities have put forward, arguing that the … figures were overestimates …

—Norman Boucher

Synonyms

Verb

• appreciate
• value
• overrate
• overvalue
• admire
• respect

Examples of overestimate in a Sentence

Verb

the contractors overestimated their ability to do the work on such short notice

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Leaders often overestimate current processes; hard data on time-to-hire, attrition or feedback quality balances perception with reality. —Prithvi Singh Shergill, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

These are often the result of visitors underestimating the conditions and sometimes overestimating their own capabilities. —Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025

Noun

This is an overestimate of the number of shots. —Sony Salzman, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2025

Those figures are overestimates, even before accounting for the savings from improved health. —Kenneth E Thorpe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1797, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1828, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overestimate

• borosilicate
• decontaminate
• deoxycholate
• deteriorate
• differentiate
• diisocyanate
• dinoflagellate
• excommunicate
• incapacitate
• insubordinate
• intercorporate
• interpenetrate

Kids Definition

overestimate

verb

over·​es·​ti·​mate

ˌō-və-ˈres-tə-ˌmāt

overestimated; overestimating

1

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

overestimated how many would attend

2

: to place too high a value on : overrate

overestimated his abilities

overestimate

-mət

noun

overestimation

-ˌres-tə-ˈmā-shən

noun