underestimate
|un-der-es-ti-mate|
🇺🇸
/ˌʌndərˈɛstəˌmeɪt/
🇬🇧
/ˌʌndəˈrɛstɪmeɪt/
to undervalue
Etymology
'underestimate' originates from the prefix 'under-' meaning 'below' and the word 'estimate' from Latin 'aestimare' meaning 'to value or appraise'.
'underestimate' evolved from the combination of 'under-' and 'estimate' in the 19th century.
Initially, it meant 'to value below the actual worth', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an estimate that is less than the actual size, quantity, or degree.
The initial cost was an underestimate of the final expenses.
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Antonyms
Verb 1
to estimate something as being less than the actual size, quantity, or degree.
Many people underestimate the time it takes to learn a new language.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35