---
title: underestimate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «underestimate» in the school dictionary: To underestimate means to guess that an amount, size or time is smaller than it really is: «I underestimated how long the walk would take.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# underestimate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** amount, size, I, walk, they, underestimate · **What happens:** underestimate, mean, guess, be, take, think · **To what, where:** person, guess, jar, 50, small dog, team · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«underestimate» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [underestimate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/underestimate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To underestimate means to guess that an amount, size or time is smaller than it really is: «I underestimated how long the walk would take.».

<!-- fold The tree, 25 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underestimate:m1:1
# text = To underestimate means to guess that an amount, size or time is smaller than it really is: «I underestimated how long the walk would take.».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	underestimate	underestimate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	guess	guess	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	size	size	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
13	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	obj	_	_
15	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
17	really	really	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
18	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
22	underestimated	underestimate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
23	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	24	advmod	_	_
24	long	long	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	28	advmod	_	_
25	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	walk	walk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	28	nsubj	_	_
27	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	28	aux	_	_
28	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	22	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **underestimate** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **guess** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | present | a amount and size or time |  |  |  |  | small *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** | present | size |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **underestimate** *in a quote* | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 7 | **take** *in a quote* | would | the walk |  |  |  |  | long *property* | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To underestimate a person means to think they are less clever, strong or able than they really are.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underestimate:m2:1
# text = To underestimate a person means to think they are less clever, strong or able than they really are.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	underestimate	underestimate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	11	advmod	_	_
11	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
13	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	able	able	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	_
16	than	than	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
17	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
18	really	really	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
19	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **underestimate** | to-infinitive |  | a person |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent person=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **think** *speech: other* *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **is** | present | they |  |  |  |  | clever, less *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **be** |  | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **be** |  | they *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **does** | present | they |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An underestimate (noun) is a guess that is too low.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underestimate:m3:1
# text = An underestimate (noun) is a guess that is too low.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	underestimate	underestimate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	guess	guess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	too	too	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	low	low	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a underestimate | a guess |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a guess |  |  |  |  | low *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I underestimated how many sweets were in the jar: I said 50 and there were 72.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underestimate:x1:1
# text = I underestimated how many sweets were in the jar: I said 50 and there were 72.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	underestimated	underestimate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	4	advmod	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	sweets	sweet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	jar	jar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
11	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
12	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
13	50	50	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	12	obj	_	_
14	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	16	expl	_	_
16	were	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
17	72	72	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **underestimate** | past | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | many sweets |  |  | the jar |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | I | 50 |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent 50=Topic |
| 4 | **be** | past | 72 |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Never underestimate a small dog!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underestimate:x2:1
# text = Never underestimate a small dog!
1	Never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	2	advmod	_	_
2	underestimate	underestimate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **underestimate** | imperative | you *not said here* | a small dog |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent dog=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The champions underestimated our team and lost 2–1.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underestimate:x3:1
# text = The champions underestimated our team and lost 2–1.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	champions	champion	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	underestimated	underestimate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
8	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	–	–	SYM	SYM	ExtPos=ADP	10	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	1	1	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **underestimate** | participle | the champions | our team |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent team=Theme |
| 2 | **lose** | past | the champions *not said here* | 2 |  |  |  | – 1 | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent 2=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rounding 48 and 37 down to 40 and 30 gives an underestimate of their sum.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underestimate:x4:1
# text = Rounding 48 and 37 down to 40 and 30 gives an underestimate of their sum.
1	Rounding	round	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	48	48	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	obj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	37	37	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	conj	_	_
5	down	down	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	40	40	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	obl	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	30	30	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	conj	_	_
10	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	underestimate	underestimate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
13	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	sum	sum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **round** | gerund |  | 48 |  |  |  | to 40 *result* | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent 48=Patient to 40=Result |
| 2 | **give** | present | Rounding | a underestimate of their sum |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent underestimate=Theme |
| 3 | **underestimate** |  |  | their sum |  |  |  |  | nom underestimate «cognition transitive»: of=patient |
| 4 | **sum** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom sum «possession transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
People often underestimate how cold the sea is in spring.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underestimate:x5:1
# text = People often underestimate how cold the sea is in spring.
1	People	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	often	often	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	underestimate	underestimate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
5	cold	cold	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sea	sea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **underestimate** | present | People |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn characterize-29.2-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present | the sea |  |  |  | in cold spring |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't underestimate the danger of swimming in a river.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underestimate:x6:1
# text = Don't underestimate the danger of swimming in a river.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	underestimate	underestimate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	danger	danger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	swimming	swimming	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	river	river	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **underestimate** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the danger of swimming |  | a river |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent danger=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
200 is an underestimate; the real number is 230.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:underestimate:x7:1
# text = 200 is an underestimate; the real number is 230.
1	200	200	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	underestimate	underestimate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	10	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	230	230	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | 200 | a underestimate |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the real number | 230 |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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