What does underrate mean?
Underrate means to judge someone or something as less valuable, talented, significant, or costly than it really is. The word is especially common when discussing people whose potential is overlooked, as in “The team was wrong to underrate the young player.” It can also apply to risks, difficulties, costs, or the importance of something: failing to underrate a risk is to recognize that it may be more serious than expected. The related adjective underrated describes a person or thing that has received too low an assessment, often with the implication that its true merits deserve greater attention. Underrate is generally neutral in tone, although it can convey criticism of the person or organization making the underestimate. Its usefulness lies in naming a specific kind of misjudgment: not simply being uncertain, but assigning less value than is warranted.
verbTo estimate or regard someone or something as less valuable, talented, significant, or costly than it really is. It is especially used of judging a person’s abilities or potential too harshly.
- To judge someone’s abilities, merits, prospects, or value as less than they really are; to rate too low.
- To regard a possibility, difficulty, cost, or significance as smaller or less serious than it actually is.
"Do not underestimate the value of a fresh perspective; teams often underrate people who think differently."
"The scout was wary of underrating a young player who had performed inconsistently."
"Companies can underrate the operational risk of relying on a single supplier."
To underrate someone is not merely to underestimate them, but to overlook the value they could bring.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does underrate come from?
English underrate was formed by combining the Old English prefix under- with rate. The word rate comes through Old French from Medieval Latin rata, derived from Latin ratus, meaning fixed or prescribed; related English forms include ration, rational, and ratify. The compound underrate developed in early modern English with the sense of rating or valuing too low. Its prefix under- gives the modern verb its characteristic meaning of falling short in judgment or estimation.
Related word forms
How underrate is actually used
This is a standard transitive verb in formal and informal English. It often carries an evaluative implication: the person or thing being judged has more ability, importance, or potential than the speaker recognizes. British and American usage are broadly similar.
Easily confused with underrate
“Underrate” is the verb meaning to judge something too highly or make too little of it, whereas “underrated” is the adjective describing something that has been judged unfairly low.