underperform

verb

un·​der·​per·​form ˌən-dər-pər-ˈfȯrm 

-pə-ˈfȯrm

underperformed; underperforming; underperforms

transitive verb

: to do worse than

… it believes the company will underperform other relatives covered by the firm …

—Jim Milliot

intransitive verb

: to fail to do as well as expected

The stocks underperformed.

underperformance

ˌən-dər-pər-ˈfȯr-mən(t)s 

-pə-ˈfȯr-

noun

underperformer noun

Examples of underperform in a Sentence

The report shows which schools are underperforming.

Recent Examples on the Web

Several stocks with buy ratings, including Delta Air Lines, Nike and United Parcel Service, have underperformed in 2025, losing as much as 35% of their value since the beginning of the year. —Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2025

Dick’s Sporting Goods announced the impending store closures amid a larger strategy shift to clean up inventory and shut down underperforming locations. —Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

The Lakers’ confidence that improved shooting will come stems, in part, from the fact that several players are underperforming as shooters compared to their norms. —Khobi Price, Oc Register, 24 Nov. 2025

Its stock underperformed the S&P in six of its first 11 years. —Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for underperform

• cuneiform
• iodoform
• nonuniform
• brainstorm
• conform
• deform
• firestorm
• hailstorm
• inform
• landform
• lukewarm
• perform