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

The tech trade While the QQQ, SMH and Mag7 are underperforming, there have been big surges in cybersecurity, software and memory stock over the summer. — Frank Holland, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026

But Tong underperformed for most of the summer in the minors. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Trek has been dormant on the big screen since Star Trek Beyond underperformed a decade ago, and the franchise is a priority for Ellison’s Paramount. — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

As brands rush to use generative AI to make advertising faster and cheaper, new research suggests that the real risk is not obviously bad creative but work that looks good enough to approve while quietly underperforming in the market. — Adam Peruta, Harvard Business Review, 3 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