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

To me, this is a chance to buy the leader while the stock is underperforming its peers. — Stephanie Link, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

This is why the tool-plus-incumbent combination tends to underperform. — Adriana Munoz Vergara, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Unlike institutional investors, who rely on algorithms to dump underperforming shares at the first sign of trouble, Coyle says retail buyers are more likely to stick around in good times and bad. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026

The day of her departure and a month after her presentation of a cruise collection in Marseille underperformed. — Olivier Bouchara, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026

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