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
One study of the effect found that it’s likely caused by people underestimating the duration of the first leg.
—
Alex Mayyasi, HubSpot, 22 Aug. 2025
Altman, at that same dinner, warned that the U.S. may be underestimating the complexity and seriousness of China’s progress in AI—and said export controls alone likely aren’t a reliable solution.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2025
In fact, many entrepreneurs fall into common traps: overpaying for fancy but impractical solutions, underestimating integration challenges or trusting vendors that don’t truly understand their needs.
—Son Nguyen, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
That is one reason why the rest of the world has persistently underestimated China’s capabilities.
—Dan Wang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underestimate
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Alex Mayyasi, HubSpot, 22 Aug. 2025
Altman, at that same dinner, warned that the U.S. may be underestimating the complexity and seriousness of China’s progress in AI—and said export controls alone likely aren’t a reliable solution.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2025
In fact, many entrepreneurs fall into common traps: overpaying for fancy but impractical solutions, underestimating integration challenges or trusting vendors that don’t truly understand their needs.
—Son Nguyen, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
That is one reason why the rest of the world has persistently underestimated China’s capabilities.
—Dan Wang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 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 27 Aug. 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
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