understate verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced American Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of understate verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

understate

verb

NAmE//ˌʌndərˈsteɪt//

understate somethingVerb Forms present simple I / you / we / they understate

he / she / it understates

past simple understated

-ing form understating

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to state that something is smaller, less important, or less serious than it really is It would be a mistake to understate the seriousness of the problem. The figures probably understate the real unemployment rate. opposite overstate

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Nearby words

understanding noun
understanding adjective
understate verb
understated adjective
understatement noun