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

All those incentives given to the original purchaser are passed along to future owners, but according to a Deloitte report, EV residuals are underperforming even more than expected. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026

Drossman said some clients are reluctant to invest in opportunity zones again after their previous investments underperformed. —Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026

Ron Dennis and Jo Ramirez did their best to convince him, but a gradually underperforming team with no clear path forward and a revolving door of teammates wasn’t part of Senna’s strategy. —Jerry Perez, The Drive, 16 Apr. 2026

While officials say tax revenue from a stadium district would pay off the bonds, the city could tap other funds to pay off the bonds if the project underperforms. —Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 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