underperform
/ˌʌndəpəˈfɔːm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌʌndərpərˈfɔːrm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-dər-pər-ˈfȯrm -pə-ˈfȯrm/ (ame, mw)
underperform — verb
- underperformpresent simple I / you / we / they
- underperformshe / she / it
- underperformedpast simple
- underperforming-ing form
1. to achieve a lower level of success or output than comparable people, groups, or
to achieve a lower level of success or output than comparable people, groups, or things, or to fall short of the standard that was anticipated
Theo worried that his team would underperform in the championship match against their longtime rivals.
underperform + in [competition]
Students at that school consistently underperform on national math exams compared to the state average.
consistently underperform + on [exam] + compared to [standard]
Amara noticed her new assistant began to underperform after just three months in the role.
The marketing department underperformed this quarter and failed to hit its sales targets.
- fall short
more informal; works across personal and professional settings
- lag behind
emphasises the comparative aspect of doing less well than peers
- trail
used particularly in finance when a stock or fund posts a lower return than a benchmark
- excel
to do very well and exceed expectations
- outperform
the direct opposite — to do better than comparable people or things
文法句型
underperform + in/on + [context]
underperform + compared to + [standard]
用法筆記
Common in business performance reviews, education assessments, and sports commentary. Often paired with a comparative structure using 'than' or 'compared to' to name the standard being missed.
2. to earn a smaller profit or provide a lower return on investment than similar bu
to earn a smaller profit or provide a lower return on investment than similar businesses, financial products, or market benchmarks
Several retail stocks underperformed the broader market last quarter because of rising supply-chain costs.
underperform + [benchmark/market]
Amir sold his technology fund shares after it underperformed its benchmark for two straight years.
underperform + [possessive] + benchmark
Anika's financial advisor warned her the bond portfolio could underperform as interest rates rise.
The renewable energy index underperformed last year despite strong global demand for clean power.
- trail
precise synonym in finance when a stock or fund posts a lower return than its benchmark
- lag behind
emphasises the gap compared to peers or indices
- outperform
the direct opposite — to produce a higher return than comparable investments
- beat
informal; used when a stock or fund exceeds its benchmark
文法句型
underperform + [benchmark/market]
underperform + in + [situation]
用法筆記
Predominantly used in finance, investment reporting, and business journalism. Often takes a direct object naming the benchmark (e.g. 'underperform the market'), or is used intransitively with a modifier such as 'badly' or 'significantly'.