underestimate
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/ˌʌndɚˈɛstəˌmeɪt/
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A judgment that places an amount, difficulty, ability, or value below its real level.
Examples
Ten days turned out to be an underestimate of the time required.
Is the reported total an underestimate?
Calling the damage minor was a dangerous underestimate.
Never underestimate a quiet opponent.
Have I underestimated how determined she is?
Similar words
underrate
undervalue
undercount
sell short
undervaluation
undercalculate
miscalculate
discount
belittle
underrate
Meanings
Examples
We underestimated how long the repairs would take.
Don't underestimate the cost of heating an old house.
The forecast underestimates demand during the summer.
Did we underestimate the difficulty of the climb?
I had badly underestimated the amount of food we needed.
This method may underestimate the true number of cases.
Similar words
undercalculate
miscalculate
undervalue
underrate
understate
Examples
Never underestimate a quiet opponent.
Her calm manner led them to underestimate her.
The team was underestimated all season and still won the title.
You shouldn't underestimate the value of local knowledge.
Have I underestimated how determined she is?
Critics often underestimate the influence of children's books.
Similar words
underrate
undervalue
sell short
discount
belittle
Examples
The original budget was a serious underestimate.
Ten days turned out to be an underestimate of the time required.
Is the reported total an underestimate?
Their sales figure proved to be a slight underestimate.
Calling the damage minor was a dangerous underestimate.
Even the revised cost may be an underestimate.
Similar words
undercount
undervaluation
miscalculation
low estimate
Etymology
Formed from under-, meaning too little or below, and estimate. The verb appeared in the early 19th century, followed later by the noun.
FAQ
What does underestimate mean?
To underestimate is to judge an amount, difficulty, ability, or value as lower than it really is.
Can underestimate be a noun?
Yes. An underestimate is an estimate that is lower than the real amount or level.
What is the opposite of underestimate?
The direct opposite is overestimate, which means to judge something as higher or greater than it really is.
What does it mean to underestimate someone?
It means failing to recognize how capable, strong, clever, or determined that person really is.
How is underestimate pronounced?
The verb is pronounced /ˌʌndɚˈɛstəˌmeɪt/ in General American English.
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