underrate

verb

un·​der·​rate ˌən-dər-ˈrāt How to pronounce underrate (audio)
ˌən-də-
underrated; underrating; underrates

transitive verb

: to rate or value (something or someone) too low : undervalue
His off-the-cuff improvisations, his airy tendency to throw out half-baked ideas, caused others to underrate his continuity of purpose …Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.
As I watched the film for the first time …, it seemed to me that its effect was to exploit innocence and violence in ways that overrate the power of the first and underrate the complexity of the second …Vincent Canby
see also underrated

Examples of underrate in a Sentence

She underrated her student's ability. it's perhaps the most underrated film of the last decade
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
According to Givi, sentimental gifts — for example, something handmade or connected to a memory that the two of you share — are often underrated by gift-givers. Whizy Kim, Vox, 19 Nov. 2024 His is a skill set that is built to last, but this type of player is often underrated both during and after his career. Tony Blengino, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 The show’s producers have figured out lowest-common-denominator appeal, counting on tabloid notoriety and underrating the public’s intelligence. Armond White, National Review, 16 Oct. 2024 Sáez believes this trend makes Bogotá a versatile destination for food, although still underrated, compared to other Latin American capitals like Lima or Mexico City. Taryn White, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for underrate 

Word History

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of underrate was in 1632

Dictionary Entries Near underrate

Cite this Entry

“Underrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underrate. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

underrate

verb
un·​der·​rate ˌən-də(r)-ˈrāt How to pronounce underrate (audio)
: to rate too low : undervalue

More from Merriam-Webster on underrate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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