underestimate
pronunciation
How to pronounce underestimate in British English:
UK [ˌʌndərˈestɪmeɪt , ˌʌndərˈestɪmət]
How to pronounce underestimate in American English:
US [ˌʌndərˈestɪmeɪt , ˌʌndərˈestɪmət]
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- Noun:
- an estimation that is too low; an estimate that is less than the true or actual value
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- Verb:
- assign too low a value to
- make a deliberately low estimate
- make too low an estimate of
Word Origin
- underestimate (v.)
- 1812, "to estimate at too low an amount," from under + estimate (v.). Meaning "to rank too low, undervalue" is recorded from 1850. Related: Underestimated; underestimating.
Example
- 1. Independent estimates all agree this is a vast underestimate .
- 2. The west should neither neglect nor underestimate its potential role in advancing freedom and democracy in my homeland .
- 3. Most people vastly underestimate their total .
- 4. Even this may be an underestimate .
- 5. Managers underestimate the cultural differences between organisations .