Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense overestimates, present participle overestimating, past tense, past participle overestimatedpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (oʊvərestɪmeɪt). The noun is pronounced (oʊvərestɪmət).
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.
With hindsight, he was overestimating their desire for peace. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB]
Overestimate is also a noun.
I suspect the figures could be an overestimate.
overestimation (oʊvəʳestɪmeɪʃən)singular noun
This led to an overestimation of what conceptual thinking could contribute to practicallife.
...excessive overestimation of one's own importance. [+ of]
2. verb
If you say that something cannotbe overestimated, you are emphasizing that you think it is very important.
[emphasis]
The importance of participating in the life of the country cannot be overestimated. [beVERB-ed]
It is hard to overestimate the potential gains from this process. [VERB noun]
3. verb
If you overestimate someone, you think that they have more of a skill or quality than they really have.
I think you overestimate me, Fred. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of overestimate
overestimate in British English
verb (ˌəʊvərˈɛstɪˌmeɪt)
1. (transitive)
to value or estimate too highly
noun (ˌəʊvərˈɛstɪmɪt)
2.
an estimate that is too high
Derived forms
overestimation (ˌoverˌestiˈmation)
noun
overestimate in American English
(ˌoʊvərˈɛstəˌmeɪt; for n. ˈoʊvərˌɛstəmɪt)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˌoverˈestiˌmated or ˌoverˈestiˌmating
1.
to set too high an estimate on or for
noun
2.
an estimate that is too high
Derived forms
overestimation (ˌoverˌestiˈmation)
noun
Examples of 'overestimate' in a sentence
overestimate
`I'm sure you overestimate our importance," Tamara said.
Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD (1977)
Don't overestimate your importance in the operation," Saisse retorted disdainfully.
MacNeill, Alastair CODE BREAKER (1977)
Besides, Mr. Hartheim, as I said earlier, I think you overestimate my influence with her.
Colleen McCullough THE THORN BIRDS (1977)
In other languages
overestimate
British English: overestimate /ˌəʊvərˈɛstɪˌmeɪt/ VERB
If you overestimate someone or something, you think that they are better, bigger, or more important than they really are.
Supermarkets often overestimate how much they might sell.
American English: overestimate
Arabic: يُغَالِي فِي الْتَقْدِيرِ
Brazilian Portuguese: superestimar
Chinese: 估计过高
Croatian: precijeniti
Czech: přecenit
Danish: overvurdere
Dutch: overschatten
European Spanish: sobrestimar
Finnish: yliarvioida
French: surestimer
German: überschätzen
Greek: υπερεκτιμώ
Italian: sopravvalutare
Japanese: 過大評価する
Korean: 과대 평가하다
Norwegian: overvurdering
Polish: przecenić wartość
European Portuguese: sobrestimar
Romanian: a supraestima
Russian: переоценивать
Latin American Spanish: sobrestimar
Swedish: överskatta
Thai: ประเมินมากเกินไป
Turkish: gözünde büyütmek
Ukrainian: переоцінювати
Vietnamese: đánh giá quá cao
Chinese translation of 'overestimate'
overestimate
(vbəuvərˈɛstɪmeɪt; nəuvərˈɛstɪmət)
vt
过(過)高估计(計) (guò gāo gūjì)
n(c)
过(過)高的估计(計) (guò gāo de gūjì)
(verb)
Definition
to believe something or someone to be bigger, more important, or better than is the case
We must not overestimate the significance of this result.
Synonyms
exaggerate
He tends to exaggerate the importance of his job.
magnify
spend their time magnifying ridiculous details
inflate
Even his war record was fraudulently inflated.
amplify
exalt
overstate
The importance of health education cannot be overstated.
overemphasize
Many schools overemphasize the importance of spelling.
blow out of all proportion
make a production (out) of (informal)
make a federal case of (US, informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inflate
Definition
to give an impression of greater importance than is justified
Even his war record was fraudulently inflated.
Synonyms
exaggerate,
embroider,
embellish,
emphasize,
enlarge,
magnify,
overdo,
amplify,
exalt,
overstate,
overestimate,
overemphasize,
blow out of all proportion,
aggrandize,
hyperbolize
in the sense of magnify
Definition
to make something seem more important than it really is
spend their time magnifying ridiculous details
Synonyms
exaggerate,
overdo,
overstate,
build up,
enhance,
blow up,
inflate,
overestimate,
dramatize,
overrate,
overplay,
overemphasize,
blow up out of all proportion,
aggrandize,
make a production (out) of (informal),
make a federal case of (US, informal)
in the sense of overemphasize
Definition
to give (something) more importance than is necessary or appropriate
Many schools overemphasize the importance of spelling.