understate

Word parts

under- + state

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ʌndəˈsteɪt/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: un‧der‧state

Verb

Plain form understate

Third-person singular understates

Past tense understated

Past participle understated

Present participle understating

1. If you understate something, you describe it as being less important than it really is.
   • Antonyms: exaggerate and overstate

Related words

• understatement