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
Don’t underestimate the power of rest, ritual, and release.
—
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 28 Nov. 2025
Practicing these three simple gestures (five different weekly contacts, three more genuine monthly exchanges, and one hour of daily sociability), awakens a part of ourselves that is too often put on the back burner or underestimated.
—Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
The murderous creatures of the Upside Down have breached the military zone, and begin a mass slaughter of the soldiers, who’ve underestimated their foes.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
Never underestimate the quiet ones.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underestimate
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Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 28 Nov. 2025
Practicing these three simple gestures (five different weekly contacts, three more genuine monthly exchanges, and one hour of daily sociability), awakens a part of ourselves that is too often put on the back burner or underestimated.
—Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
The murderous creatures of the Upside Down have breached the military zone, and begin a mass slaughter of the soldiers, who’ve underestimated their foes.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
Never underestimate the quiet ones.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Nov. 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 30 Nov. 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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