underestimate

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

|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Examples: underestimate in a Sentence

Definition of underestimate

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

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underestimate

play \ˌən-dər-ˈe-stə-mət\ noun

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underestimation

play \ˌən-dər-ˌe-stə-ˈmā-shən\ noun

See underestimate defined for English-language learners

See underestimate defined for kids

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 of underestimate from the Web

Never underestimate the power of showing up and speaking up.

— brittany packnett, The Cut, "Roseanne’s Cancellation Is a Lesson in Political Protesting," 30 May 2018
At best, 25 percent of the participants viewed their performance more or less realistically; only some people underestimated themselves.

— steve ayan, Scientific American, "10 Things You Don’t Know About Yourself," 15 May 2018
Never underestimate the enduring power of the smallest act of love and service.

— susannah hutcheson, USA TODAY, "New Jersey's Cory Booker talks about life, losses, mentors and how he became a U.S. senator," 24 Apr. 2018
But never underestimate the power of the final official visit.

— tim bielik, cleveland.com, "4-star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, an Ohio State target, visiting Texas with decision looming: Buckeyes football recruiting," 20 Apr. 2018
Teenage activism may have gotten quieter — but don’t underestimate it Parkland students ignited a new push for gun control in the wake of the shooting at their school that left 17 students and teachers dead.

— jen kirby, Vox, "National School Walkout on April 20 kicks off the next wave of gun control activism," 19 Apr. 2018
The study comprehensively confirms earlier findings that methane leaks are underestimated, says Rob Jackson, an environmental scientist at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, who has studied methane releases in Boston and Washington, D.C.

— warren cornwall, Science | AAAS, "Natural gas could warm the planet as much as coal in the short term," 21 June 2018
In order to find an explanation for humans’ tendency to underestimate lightning’s splintering branches, researchers asked 10 individuals to look at a series of 180 images flashed across a computer screen.

— meilan solly, Smithsonian, "Why Artists Have so Much Trouble Painting Lightning," 15 June 2018
President Trump isn’t the first politician to underestimate Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

— nestor ramos, BostonGlobe.com, "President Trump called Trudeau ‘meek.’ The guy who faced him in a boxing ring begs to differ," 12 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'underestimate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of underestimate

1792

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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underestimate Synonyms

Phrases

sell short;

UNDERESTIMATE Defined for English Language Learners

underestimate

verb

Definition of underestimate for English Language Learners

: to estimate (something) as being less than the actual size, quantity, or number
: to think of (someone or something) as being lower in ability, influence, or value than that person or thing actually is