Underestimate
/ˌʌndərˈɛstəˌmeɪt/noun
To assess something as less than its actual value or importance.
Did you know?The prefix 'under-' has roots in ancient concepts of inferiority, hinting at hidden potential that often goes unnoticed in our assessments.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*n̥dʰer
“below, beneath; lower position”
Old English
Old English
under
“beneath, among, or lower than”
Middle English
Middle English
underestimen
“to estimate as lesser than the true value”
Early Modern English
Early Modern English
underestimate
“to regard as less important or lower in value than reality”
Modern English
English
underestimate
“to judge something as less than it is, retaining a sense of oversight and misjudgment.”
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