underrate

/ˌʌndəˈreɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌʌndɚrˈet] /ˌʌndəˈreɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌʌndɚrˈet] /ˌən-dər-ˈrāt How to pronounce underrate (audio) ˌən-də-/ (ame, mw)

underrate — verb

  • underratepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • underrateshe / she / it
  • underratedpast simple
  • underrating-ing form

1. to think a person or thing is less good, important, or skilful than they really

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to think a person or thing is less good, important, or skilful than they really are

例句

Ana Sofia underrated her own cooking, but the guests asked for seconds.

underrate + reflexive: underrate one's own [skill]

The hiring panel underrated Kwame's experience; he turned out to be the strongest applicant.

同義詞
  • undervalue

    stresses not seeing the true worth, often in financial or professional contexts

  • underestimate

    broader — applies to both quality and quantity; 'underrate' is only for quality or skill

  • sell short

    informal; implies unfairly denying someone the credit they deserve

  • downplay

    suggests deliberately making something seem less important, not just failing to notice

反義詞
  • overrate

    to think something is better than it really is

  • overvalue

    to place too high a worth on something

文法句型

underrate + noun/noun phrase

be underrated

用法筆記

Often used in the passive ('be underrated') to describe people, performances, or works that deserve more recognition than they get. The subject is typically a person, a piece of work, or a quality — not a number or measurement.

常見錯誤

❌I underrated the time it would take to finish.
✅I underestimated the time it would take to finish.
💡'underrate' is about value or quality, not about guessing a number too low. Use 'underestimate' for quantities and measurements.