underestimate
verb
un·der·es·ti·mate
ˌən-dər-ˈe-stə-ˌmāt 
underestimated; underestimating; underestimates
1
: to estimate as being less than the actual size, quantity, or number
2
: to place too low a value on : underrate
Examples of underestimate in a Sentence
The city underestimated the cost of the new building.
The number of people in the crowd was underestimated by 5,000.
Never underestimate the importance of a good education.
Her talent has always been underestimated.
Recent Examples on the Web
It must not be underestimated just how much great music can contribute to the success of a movie or TV show.
—
Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Apr. 2024
And in 2020, international researchers warned that the standards sharply underestimate the impact of a head-on collision by a big ship into a bridge.
—Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Despite being young and healthy, many millennials underestimate the need for life insurance.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 18 Apr. 2024
Audiences evolve, however, and this cannot be underestimated.
—Guy Trebay, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
While greenhouse gases, volcanic eruptions and aerosols are known to affect global temperatures, perhaps the full extent of their effects have been underestimated or miscalibrated.
—Hayley Smith Los Angeles Times (tns), arkansasonline.com, 1 Apr. 2024
The deficits were projected after the state ended residential rent tax collections starting in January 2025 and after the state underestimated the cost of passing a flat income tax.
—Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2024
Albert Erskine, the company’s president, underestimated the impact of those economic times, continuing to pay out dividends without significant profits.
—David Krumboltz, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
Joseph agreed his study’s method likely does underestimate maternal death rates.
—Robin Fields, ProPublica, 5 Apr. 2024
Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Apr. 2024
And in 2020, international researchers warned that the standards sharply underestimate the impact of a head-on collision by a big ship into a bridge.
—Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Despite being young and healthy, many millennials underestimate the need for life insurance.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 18 Apr. 2024
Audiences evolve, however, and this cannot be underestimated.
—Guy Trebay, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
While greenhouse gases, volcanic eruptions and aerosols are known to affect global temperatures, perhaps the full extent of their effects have been underestimated or miscalibrated.
—Hayley Smith Los Angeles Times (tns), arkansasonline.com, 1 Apr. 2024
The deficits were projected after the state ended residential rent tax collections starting in January 2025 and after the state underestimated the cost of passing a flat income tax.
—Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2024
Albert Erskine, the company’s president, underestimated the impact of those economic times, continuing to pay out dividends without significant profits.
—David Krumboltz, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
Joseph agreed his study’s method likely does underestimate maternal death rates.
—Robin Fields, ProPublica, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underestimate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Underestimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underestimate. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
underestimate
verb
un·der·es·ti·mate
ˌən-də-ˈres-tə-ˌmāt
1
: to estimate as being less than the actual size, quantity, or number
underestimate the cost of a new building
2
: to place too low a value on : underrate
underestimate an opponent
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