Word family noun estimate estimation estimator overestimate ≠ underestimate adjective estimated verb estimate overestimate ≠ underestimate
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishunderestimateun‧der‧es‧ti‧mate1 /ˌʌndərˈestɪmeɪt/ ●●○ AWL verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]UNIMPORTANTTHINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT to think or guess that something is smaller, cheaper, easier etc than it really is OPP overestimateunderestimate how/what We underestimated how long it would take to get there.underestimate the importance/extent/effect/power etc of something Never underestimate the power of the press.2 [transitive]THINK/HAVE THE OPINION THAT to think that someone is not as good, clever, or skilful, as they really are→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
underestimate• Damages in fatal accident cases are likely to be substantial and should not be underestimated.• We saved about $1000 for our trip but we underestimated and may have to wait until next year to go.• The reality could simply be that the manufacturer underestimated demand.• We do not want to underestimate difficulties and problems.• I wouldn't underestimate her if I were you - she's smarter than you think.• Don't underestimate how good the other team is, or how hard they're going to play.• They had badly underestimated how many lifeboats would be needed.• You must never underestimate how much I love you.• They underestimated the amount of time it would take to finish the work.• I don't underestimate the difficulty of the attempt, but I do believe that it can work.• Early mapmakers often underestimated the earth's circumference.• In fact, the Labour Force Survey underestimates the extent of this discrimination.• These figures and other measures, however, most likely underestimate the impact of infectious diseases.• People often underestimate the importance of human relationships in successful companies.• You should not underestimate the importance of these rights when working out the value of your contract.• People often underestimate the importance of training.• Practitioners should not underestimate the shift in practice required to implement a needs-led approach to assessment of older people.• Never underestimate the value of really good training.underestimate how/what• It should not be underestimated how important it still is to seek such benefits from investment in new methods.• I think people do underestimate what is sexually attractive.• You must not underestimate how much practical, physical and emotional strain this situation creates for you.• Never underestimate how terrified many people are when faced with the prospect of going into a solicitors' office.• The Government fatally underestimate how very chastened many consumers are by the harsh experience of the last couple of years.underestimateun‧der‧es‧ti‧mate2 /ˌʌndərˈestəmət/ AWL noun [countable] GUESSa guessed amount or number that is too low OPP overestimate Fourteen percent may be an underestimate.Examples from the Corpus
underestimate• There could be 50 people at the wedding, but this is probably an underestimate.• Yet even this number, one in twenty, is probably an underestimate.• This was an underestimate of course.• But it is publicly acknowledged that these numbers, which represent people who have put themselves forward for testing, are underestimates.• Resulting misclassification will tend to dilute the effect of smoking and so our risk estimates are likely to be underestimates.• This is, almost certainly, a gross underestimate of the true number of suicides.• The old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words is a gross underestimate in the computer world.• But the committee removed key sentences which suggested that flaws in the experiment might have resulted in this being a serious underestimate.From Longman Business Dictionaryunderestimateun‧der‧es‧ti‧mate /ˌʌndərˈestɪmeɪt/ verb [transitive] to think that something is smaller than it really isWe underestimated our operating costs.The official statistics seriously underestimate actual unemployment. —underestimate /ˌʌndərˈestəmət/ noun [countable]These unemployment figures should be regarded as underestimates.→ See Verb table 