underestimate B2 Topic:Describing People US /ʌndɚˈɛs.tɪ.meɪt/ See IPA manual Freq #7518 Meanings 1 verb To think that something is smaller, easier, or less important than it really is. I totally underestimated how hard the task would be. 2 verb To think that someone is less capable than they really are. Never underestimate your opponent. 3 noun An estimate or guess that is too low. The early budget proved to be a serious underestimate. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to think that something is... underratemisjudge 2 verb · to think that someone is... sell short 3 noun · an estimate or guess that... underestimation More misunderestimateunderapproximateunderguessunderjudgeunderreckonunderstate ↔ Opposites overestimate Word family Forms underestimatedunderestimatesunderestimating Derived forms misunderestimate Etymology AI details From under- + estimate. Topics Describing People External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # underestimate **Type:** Word **Level:** B2 **Part of speech:** verb, noun **IPA (US):** /ʌndɚˈɛs.tɪ.meɪt/ **Frequency rank:** 7518 ## Meanings 1. To think that something is smaller, easier, or less important than it really is. 2. To think that someone is less capable than they really are. 3. An estimate or guess that is too low. ## Examples - I totally underestimated how hard the task would be. - Never underestimate your opponent. - The early budget proved to be a serious underestimate. ## Synonyms - misunderestimate - underapproximate - underguess - underjudge - underrate - underreckon - understate ## Antonyms - overestimate ## Derived Forms - misunderestimate ## Etymology From under- + estimate. ## AI Etymology Underestimate is from under- + estimate. The surface analysis is under- + estimate. The prefix under- supplies the lower, beneath, or insufficient element. In present-day use, it can mean to think that something is smaller, easier, or less important than it really is, or to think that someone is less capable than they really are. Derived formations include misunderestimate. ## Topics - Describing People markdown