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
underestimated the cost
2
: to think of as being lower in ability, influence, or value than is accurate : underrate
Her talent has always been underestimated.
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
The breakthrough showed that Washington had underestimated both China’s technical qualities and ability to work around restrictions.
—
Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
The other is that people underestimate the power of telling a story in chronological order and researching the events that led up to it.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2025
As Tinaikar emphasized, many SaaS companies underestimate how fundamentally AI alters their systems at the architectural level.
—Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Teens also simply want to fit in, an impulse that cannot be underestimated.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underestimate
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Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025
The other is that people underestimate the power of telling a story in chronological order and researching the events that led up to it.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2025
As Tinaikar emphasized, many SaaS companies underestimate how fundamentally AI alters their systems at the architectural level.
—Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Teens also simply want to fit in, an impulse that cannot be underestimated.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 3 Dec. 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 8 Dec. 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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