underestimate

under- +‎ estimate

• verb: IPA^(key): /ʌndɚˈɛs.tɪ.meɪt/
• noun: IPA^(key): /ʌndɚˈɛs.tɪ.mɪt/, /ʌndɚˈɛs.tɪ.mət/

underestimate (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.
   • 2023 September 6, Philip Haigh, “£30 billion plan to transform the rail network in Ireland”, in RAIL, number 991, page 25:

     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.

2. (transitive) To perceive or expect (someone or something) to be less significant or difficult than it actually is.

   I totally underestimated the task.

• belittle
• make light of
• misjudge
• misunderestimate

• (antonym(s) of “to perceive as having lower value”): overestimate

• understate

• nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people
• nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American people

underestimate (plural underestimates)

1. An estimate that is too low.

• underestimation

• overestimate