underrate

verb

un·​der·​rate ˌən-dər-ˈrāt 

ˌən-də-

underrated; underrating; underrates

transitive verb

: to rate or value (something or someone) too low : undervalue

His off-the-cuff improvisations, his airy tendency to throw out half-baked ideas, caused others to underrate his continuity of purpose …

—Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

As I watched the film for the first time …, it seemed to me that its effect was to exploit innocence and violence in ways that overrate the power of the first and underrate the complexity of the second …

—Vincent Canby

see also underrated

Synonyms of underrate

• underestimate

Examples of underrate in a Sentence

She underrated her student's ability.

it's perhaps the most underrated film of the last decade

Recent Examples on the Web

And if you’re drawn to contemporary art, don’t overlook The Henry Art Gallery, a smaller museum that’s often underrated. —Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026

For something smaller and often underrated, the Henry Art Gallery focuses on contemporary art. —Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026

Incrementalism is underrated, in other words. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026

Outdoor rugs are underrated as pieces of decor—they’re one of the easiest ways to make your space look intentionally put together with minimal effort. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for underrate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

underrate

verb

un·​der·​rate ˌən-də(r)-ˈrāt 

: to rate too low : undervalue