Definition of "underestimate"

underestimate

/ʌndɚˈɛs.tɪ.meɪt/

verb
third-person singular simple present underestimates, present participle underestimating, simple past and past participle underestimated
1. (transitive) To estimate too low; to perceive (someone or something) as having a lower value, quantity, worth, etc., than what he/she/it actually has.
  Quotations
  It recalls the business case for Scotland's reopening of the Borders Railway to Tweedbank, that British Rail closed in 1969. The review says the business case for this was at best borderline, but goes on to say that the case greatly underestimated passenger demand and that the railway Scotland built has capped its capacity.
  2023 September 6, Philip Haigh, “£30 billion plan to transform the rail network in Ireland”, in RAIL, number 991, page 25
2. (transitive) To perceive or expect (someone or something) to be less significant or difficult than it actually is.
noun
plural underestimates
1. An estimate that is too low.