overestimate
/ˌəʊvərˈestɪmeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌəʊvərˈestɪmeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌō-vər-ˈe-stə-ˌmāt/ (ame, mw) · /ˌəʊ.vəˈres.tɪ.mət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌoʊ.vɚˈes.tə.mət/ (ame, ipa)
overestimate — verb
- overestimatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- overestimateshe / she / it
- overestimatedpast simple
- overestimating-ing form
1. to give a number, size, or amount that is bigger than the real one.
to give a number, size, or amount that is bigger than the real one.
Arjun overestimated the distance from the hotel to the train station by almost five kilometres.
overestimate + measurement noun (distance, weight, length)
The bakery overestimated demand for chocolate cakes and threw out twenty unsold boxes on Sunday night.
subject is usually a company or planner
Eri overestimated how long the drive would take, so the family arrived an hour early.
Builders often overestimate the cost of materials so they can keep a small safety margin.
Tourists tend to overestimate the size of Iceland on a flat world map.
- miscalculate
neutral; can be too high OR too low — overestimate is specifically too high
- exaggerate
often deliberate or for effect; overestimate is usually an honest mistake
- underestimate
guess too low instead of too high
文法句型
overestimate + noun phrase (amount / size / number)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a planner, forecaster, or anyone making a numeric guess; the object is a quantity, time, or measurable size.
常見錯誤
2. to give an idea, plan, or quality more credit for being valuable or important th
to give an idea, plan, or quality more credit for being valuable or important than it deserves.
The importance of sleep for young athletes cannot be overestimated, Coach Ilan reminded the team.
fixed phrase: cannot be overestimated (emphasizing real importance)
Many first-time buyers overestimate the value of a fresh coat of paint on an old house.
Michael overestimates how much one good interview can change a hiring decision.
Critics overestimated the impact of the new tax on small family restaurants.
The role of luck in business success is often overestimated, Iris told her students.
- overrate
very close in meaning; overrate is more about quality, overestimate covers importance and impact too
- exaggerate
exaggerate is about how you describe something; overestimate is about what you privately believe
- underrate
think something matters less than it does
- undervalue
think something is worth less than it is
文法句型
the importance/value of X cannot be overestimated
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about value, importance, or quality — not about numbers. Often appears in the passive 'X is/can be overestimated' or the negated 'cannot be overestimated'.
3. to wrongly judge a person or team as being stronger, cleverer, or tougher than i
to wrongly judge a person or team as being stronger, cleverer, or tougher than is actually the case.
Nikos overestimated his opponent and lost the chess match in only twelve moves.
overestimate + opponent (sports / competition context)
Generals who overestimate the enemy often spend money on weapons they will never use.
Valentina overestimated her new students and gave them a test that everyone failed.
Never overestimate a quiet child — Chidi placed second in the school spelling competition.
- overrate
close in meaning when the object is a person or team
- underestimate
think someone is weaker or less able than they really are
文法句型
overestimate + person / team / opponent
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: this sense takes a PERSON or group as object (their ability or character), not an idea, value, or impact.
overestimate — noun
- overestimatesingular
- overestimatesplural
1. a number or guess that is bigger than the real amount.
a number or guess that is bigger than the real amount.
Amihan's first overestimate of the wedding budget was double what the couple actually spent.
an overestimate of + noun (budget, cost, number)
Two million visitors was a wild overestimate; only six hundred thousand came to the new museum.
adjective + overestimate (wild, gross, slight)
Putri admitted that her overestimate of the repair time had pushed the project back a week.
The early overestimate of casualties caused unnecessary panic in the surrounding villages.
Sven argued that the official population figure was an overestimate based on outdated census data.
- miscalculation
neutral; the error could be in either direction
- exaggeration
implies an intentional or rhetorical inflation
- underestimate
a figure that is too low instead of too high
文法句型
an overestimate of + noun (cost / time / number)
用法筆記
Countable noun; usually paired with an adjective showing how far off the guess was ('wild', 'gross', 'slight') or with 'of + the thing being estimated'.