overestimate

overestimate
overestimates, overestimating, overestimated
(The verb is pronounced [[t]o͟ʊvəre̱stɪmeɪt[/t]]. The noun is pronounced [[t]o͟ʊvəre̱stɪmət[/t]].)
1) VERB If you say that someone overestimates something, you mean that they think it is greater in amount or importance than it really is.

[V n] With hindsight, he was overestimating their desire for peace. [Also V]

Ant:
Derived words:
overestimation [[t]o͟ʊvə(r)estɪme͟ɪʃ(ə)n[/t]] N-SING also no det, usu N of n

This led to an overestimation of what conceptual thinking could contribute to practical life.

...excessive overestimation of one's own importance.

N-COUNT
Overestimate is also a noun.

Average earnings in the South East were about ₤59,000, although that may be an overestimate.

2) VERB: with brd-neg (emphasis) If you say that something cannot be overestimated, you are emphasizing that you think it is very important.

[be V-ed] The importance of participating in the life of the country cannot be overestimated...

[V n] It is hard to overestimate the potential gains from this process.

3) VERB If you overestimate someone, you think that they have more of a skill or quality than they really have.

[V n] I think you overestimate me, Fred.

Ant:

English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:
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  • overestimate — o‧ver‧es‧ti‧mate [ˌəʊvərˈestmeɪt ǁ ˌoʊ ] verb [transitive] to think that something is larger or greater than it really is: • Forecasters had underestimated growth and overestimated inflation by about 0.5% a year. overestimate [ ˈestmt] noun… …   Financial and business terms

  • Overestimate — O ver*es ti*mate, n. An estimate that is too high; as, an overestimate of the vote. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • overestimate — overestimate, underestimate Because these words are often used in negative or quasi negative contexts, there is a danger of losing track of logic and using the wrong word, usually underestimate for overestimate. In a wallchart on the plays of… …   Modern English usage

  • Overestimate — O ver*es ti*mate, v. t. 1. To estimate too highly. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence: To overvalue. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • overestimate — I verb adulate, aggrandize, attach too much importance to, enlarge, estimate too highly, exaggerate, exalt, exceed, expand, extol, flatter, glorify, inflate, magnify, make too much of, maximize, misestimate, misjudge, misrepresent, overassess,… …   Law dictionary

  • overestimate — ► VERB ▪ form too high an estimate of. ► NOUN ▪ an excessively high estimate. DERIVATIVES overestimation noun …   English terms dictionary

  • overestimate — [ō΄vər es′tə māt΄; ] for n. [ ō′vər es΄tə mit] vt. overestimated, overestimating to set too high an estimate on or for n. an estimate that is too high overestimation n …   English World dictionary

  • overestimate — I UK [ˌəʊvərˈestɪˌmeɪt] / US [ˌoʊvərˈestɪˌmeɪt] verb [transitive] Word forms overestimate : present tense I/you/we/they overestimate he/she/it overestimates present participle overestimating past tense overestimated past participle overestimated… …   English dictionary

  • overestimate — verb ADVERB ▪ considerably, greatly, grossly, seriously, vastly ▪ consistently ▪ The department consistently overestimated its budget deficits …   Collocations dictionary

  • overestimate — o|ver|es|ti|mate1 [ˌəuvərˈestımeıt US ˌou ] v [T] 1.) to think something is better, more important etc than it really is ≠ ↑underestimate ▪ He tends to overestimate his own abilities. ▪ The importance of training in health and safety cannot be… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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