underperform

verb

un·​der·​per·​form ˌən-dər-pər-ˈfȯrm 

-pə-ˈfȯrm

underperformed; underperforming; underperforms

transitive verb

: to do worse than

intransitive verb

: to fail to do as well as expected

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

The club has taken advantage of several of the league’s biggest teams, including Malmö, underperforming and all beating each other, Lund pointed out. —Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025

Semis as a group also making a new high, though with Nvidia and Broadcom notably underperforming. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025

But the stocks have been underperforming for a while amid questions about how AI could impact the streamer. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2025

The local stock market has underperformed emerging markets so far this year amid concerns over low prices and a government spending review that could weigh on corporate profits. —Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 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